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Chet and Bernie Mystery #4
The Dog Who Knew Too Much
Bernie is invited to give the keynote speech at the Great Western Private Eye Convention, but it's Chet that the bigshot P.I. in charge has secret plans for. Meanwhile Chet and Bernie are hired to find a kid who has gone missing from a wilderness camp in the high country.
The boy's mother thinks the boy's father, her ex, has snatched the boy, but Chet makes a find that sends the case in a new and dangerous direction.
As if that weren't enough, matters get complicated at home when a stray puppy that looks suspiciously like Chet shows up. Affairs of the heart collide with a job that's never been tougher, requiring our two intrepid sleuths to depend on each other as never before.
The boy's mother thinks the boy's father, her ex, has snatched the boy, but Chet makes a find that sends the case in a new and dangerous direction.
As if that weren't enough, matters get complicated at home when a stray puppy that looks suspiciously like Chet shows up. Affairs of the heart collide with a job that's never been tougher, requiring our two intrepid sleuths to depend on each other as never before.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2011
About the author
Spencer Quinn
40 books1,834 followersSpencer Quinn lives on Cape Cod with his dog Audrey, and is hard at work on the next Chet and Bernie adventure.
Spencer Quinn is a pseudonym of author Peter Abrahams.
Series:
* A Chet and Bernie Mystery
Spencer Quinn is a pseudonym of author Peter Abrahams.
Series:
* A Chet and Bernie Mystery
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 812 reviews
September 18, 2021
In this 4th book in the 'Chet and Bernie Mystery' series, Bernie gets arrested for murder. The book can be read as a standalone.
*****
Bernie Little and his hundred-plus pound dog Chet run the 'Little Detective Agency', somewhere in the Southwestern United States. The series is narrated by Chet, whose somewhat limited vocabulary, unfamiliarity with idioms, and doggie logic set the stage for plenty of smiles. Bernie is a West Point graduate, good at his job, and Chet is his invaluable partner, always ready to clamp his jaw on perps and drag them off by the pants.
In this book Anya Vereen hires Bernie to pose as her boyfriend for parents' weekend at Big Bear Wilderness Camp, where her son Devin is a camper. Anya is estranged from her husband Guy and wants protection. Soon after Bernie, Chet, and Anya arrive at the camp they learn that Devin apparently wandered off during an overnight campout in the mountains and is missing.
Bernie, Chet, and troop leader Turk Rendell return to the campsite where Devin disappeared but things don't go well. Turk is uncooperative and less than truthful and Devin can't be located. Things get worse when a death occurs and Bernie is arrested for murder. It soon becomes clear that something unsavory is going on in this mountain community and many of the locals - including the judge, sheriff, deputies, and camp personnel - just may be in on it.
By dint of good luck and clever moves Chet manages to help Bernie with the assistance of Bernie's girlfriend Suzy. In the interim Bernie is treated badly, Anya is intimidated, Guy gets into trouble, and Chet manages to scarf down biscuits, hamburgers, kibble, and half a BLT.
The plot doesn't quite gel in a believable way but the book is entertaining and the bad guys get what they deserve - which is always satisfying. I'd recommend the book for fans of light, humorous mysteries.
You can follow my reviews at http://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com/
October 2, 2016
These are solid 3 star mysteries, but so well narrated & told from Chet's (the dog) perspective that they're 4 star reads. His joy de vivre is infectious & so well done. His tail & barks have lives of their own, just sort of slip out occasionally, even though he & Bernie practice a lot to make sure it only happens appropriately. Well, what's a dog to do? Bernie's the best & that's the main thing. Everything about him is great, especially his smell.
The mystery in this case was a good one & allowed Chet to stretch his legs in the Arizona mountains. There's an old gold mine, plenty of hiking, & different people around. They face some tough opponents, but the Little Detective Agency is the best in the business. If you don't believe me, let Chet tell you about it.
For some reason, I missed #3 in this series, but I did read the first 2. Another plus is that I really didn't miss that book. This one was very self-contained, although Chet is kind of hazy on some of details of earlier jobs. He remembers the important parts, though.
The mystery in this case was a good one & allowed Chet to stretch his legs in the Arizona mountains. There's an old gold mine, plenty of hiking, & different people around. They face some tough opponents, but the Little Detective Agency is the best in the business. If you don't believe me, let Chet tell you about it.
For some reason, I missed #3 in this series, but I did read the first 2. Another plus is that I really didn't miss that book. This one was very self-contained, although Chet is kind of hazy on some of details of earlier jobs. He remembers the important parts, though.
January 8, 2019
This case didn't quite live up to the others before it, but let me tell you, I'll always be a Chet and Bernie fan. Hands down best part in this one: Chet and neighbor dog Iggy together in the neighbor's house = 60 seconds of utter mayhem.
January 15, 2020
“Are you in a custody fight?” Bernie said.
“No,” said Anya. “I have custody. But it’s parents’ weekend at Big Bear Wilderness Camp—that’s where Devin is for the month—and Guy’s going to be there. He made some remark about rekindling things under big western skies. I don’t want that to happen.”
“What do you expect us to do?” Bernie said.
“Us?” said Anya. “Chet and I,” Bernie said.
Bernie Little is the head of the Little Detective Agency. He is its sole employee, unless you count Chet, who almost graduated from K-9 training. This story is told by Chet and the canine perspective is at the core of what makes this series a delight.
“So why don’t I cut to the chase?”
“That was the kind of thing I liked to hear. I got my back paws up under me, ready to move.
Bernie lowered his glass, tilted his head slightly to one side. That was a sign of his brain clicking into gear, and Bernie’s brain was one of the best things we had going for us at the Little Detective Agency. His brain and my nose: plenty of perps now wearing orange jump suits can tell you about that combo.”
Did you see the Pixar movie, Up? If so, you will recognize Chet as a close cousin to Doug the Dog in several respects. Chet can communicate as well as Doug and he is often distracted by “squirrels” and puzzled about the human language anything isn’t precisely literal. While Doug could talk to the other characters in the movie by way of technology, Chet is limited to communicating through narrating the story.
This story has Chet and Bernie trying to help a woman find her son, Devin, who should have returned from a wilderness camp out trip. We get a lot of mystery about how he got lost and why Chet couldn’t pick up his trail. As we go along, the story seasons the mystery by adding an old gold mine, a meth lab and a crooked rural sheriff. On the personal side, Bernie’s love life is again in trouble and Chet would like to help.
The plot is adequate and the challenge isn’t whodunit but how many times can Quinn make us laugh by seeing things from a dog’s perspective. For me, it was very satisfactory..
Bernie Little is the head of the Little Detective Agency. He is its sole employee, unless you count Chet, who almost graduated from K-9 training. This story is told by Chet and the canine perspective is at the core of what makes this series a delight.
I want to transcribe an example or two so you can get a sense of Quinn's characters and humor....
“No,” said Anya. “I have custody. But it’s parents’ weekend at Big Bear Wilderness Camp—that’s where Devin is for the month—and Guy’s going to be there. He made some remark about rekindling things under big western skies. I don’t want that to happen.”
“What do you expect us to do?” Bernie said.
“Us?” said Anya. “Chet and I,” Bernie said.
Bernie Little is the head of the Little Detective Agency. He is its sole employee, unless you count Chet, who almost graduated from K-9 training. This story is told by Chet and the canine perspective is at the core of what makes this series a delight.
“So why don’t I cut to the chase?”
“That was the kind of thing I liked to hear. I got my back paws up under me, ready to move.
Bernie lowered his glass, tilted his head slightly to one side. That was a sign of his brain clicking into gear, and Bernie’s brain was one of the best things we had going for us at the Little Detective Agency. His brain and my nose: plenty of perps now wearing orange jump suits can tell you about that combo.”
Did you see the Pixar movie, Up? If so, you will recognize Chet as a close cousin to Doug the Dog in several respects. Chet can communicate as well as Doug and he is often distracted by “squirrels” and puzzled about the human language anything isn’t precisely literal. While Doug could talk to the other characters in the movie by way of technology, Chet is limited to communicating through narrating the story.
This story has Chet and Bernie trying to help a woman find her son, Devin, who should have returned from a wilderness camp out trip. We get a lot of mystery about how he got lost and why Chet couldn’t pick up his trail. As we go along, the story seasons the mystery by adding an old gold mine, a meth lab and a crooked rural sheriff. On the personal side, Bernie’s love life is again in trouble and Chet would like to help.
The plot is adequate and the challenge isn’t whodunit but how many times can Quinn make us laugh by seeing things from a dog’s perspective. For me, it was very satisfactory..
Bernie Little is the head of the Little Detective Agency. He is its sole employee, unless you count Chet, who almost graduated from K-9 training. This story is told by Chet and the canine perspective is at the core of what makes this series a delight.
I want to transcribe an example or two so you can get a sense of Quinn's characters and humor....
November 6, 2011
This is the fourth book in a Mystery series with Bernie the private detective and his partner, Chet the dog. What sets this apart from any other mystery series is it's written from Chet the dog's point of view. This series is all about Chet for me. He's so so so cute. He's loyal and brave, and it all comes from his love for Bernie. He ADORES Bernie! Bernie treats Chet as an equal and his partner, and you don't want to call Chet "just a dog" in front of him. Although we only see things through Chet's eyes, his strong love for Chet is obvious.
Despite all that, Chet is a dog and gets distracted by food lying around on the floor, scent of animals or someone mentioning bacon (he gets excited and may jump on you). When Chet gets distracted, we miss out on interactions with Bernie and witnesses, but it's all part of the fun.
Here's my favourite scene from the book (p 25). (Note: Chet loves to ride shotgun in Bernie's car.)
We are partners, me and Bernie, in the Little Detective Agency, if I haven't made that clear already.
"Okey-doke," says Anya. "I'll just squeeze in behind."
"Oh, no," Bernie said. "That's not necessary. Into the back, Chet."
The back was this tiny little sort of bench. I'd sat there before, but only when Charlie [Bernie's kid who lives with his ex wife] or Suzie [Bernie's sort-of girlfriend] was coming along for the ride.
"Chet?"
I have this ability to make my whole body very stiff and immovable, but I hardly ever use it.
Oh Chet. I love you so much.
Despite all that, Chet is a dog and gets distracted by food lying around on the floor, scent of animals or someone mentioning bacon (he gets excited and may jump on you). When Chet gets distracted, we miss out on interactions with Bernie and witnesses, but it's all part of the fun.
Here's my favourite scene from the book (p 25). (Note: Chet loves to ride shotgun in Bernie's car.)
We are partners, me and Bernie, in the Little Detective Agency, if I haven't made that clear already.
"Okey-doke," says Anya. "I'll just squeeze in behind."
"Oh, no," Bernie said. "That's not necessary. Into the back, Chet."
The back was this tiny little sort of bench. I'd sat there before, but only when Charlie [Bernie's kid who lives with his ex wife] or Suzie [Bernie's sort-of girlfriend] was coming along for the ride.
"Chet?"
I have this ability to make my whole body very stiff and immovable, but I hardly ever use it.
Oh Chet. I love you so much.
August 22, 2011
well, this is interesting though I just realized this news two years late...
I interviewed this guy for his first two books in his Chet and Bernie series but at that point his real identity wasn't known yet. I'll be interviewing him in December by email about his two new books, one of which is the latest in the series (which has the fun angle of a dog as a narrator - his human companion is a private eyes so it's private detective work from the dog's perspective leading to fun word play like when a "red herring" is mentioned Chet (the dog) gets really confused.
Here's an excerpt/chapter 1 of the next dog book.http://books.simonandschuster.com/Dog...
Anyway it's been revealed the author of the series is Peter Abrahams working under a pseudonym. Details on that here:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles...
So my current reading is that book and a young adult book Abraham's putting out in January called
Robbie Forester and the Outlaws of Sherwood Street
http://www.amazon.com/Robbie-Forester...
My interview with him for the first chet book was here http://sbutki.newsvine.com/_news/2009... and the second was here http://sbutki.newsvine.com/_news/2010...
I interviewed this guy for his first two books in his Chet and Bernie series but at that point his real identity wasn't known yet. I'll be interviewing him in December by email about his two new books, one of which is the latest in the series (which has the fun angle of a dog as a narrator - his human companion is a private eyes so it's private detective work from the dog's perspective leading to fun word play like when a "red herring" is mentioned Chet (the dog) gets really confused.
Here's an excerpt/chapter 1 of the next dog book.http://books.simonandschuster.com/Dog...
Anyway it's been revealed the author of the series is Peter Abrahams working under a pseudonym. Details on that here:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles...
So my current reading is that book and a young adult book Abraham's putting out in January called
Robbie Forester and the Outlaws of Sherwood Street
http://www.amazon.com/Robbie-Forester...
My interview with him for the first chet book was here http://sbutki.newsvine.com/_news/2009... and the second was here http://sbutki.newsvine.com/_news/2010...
January 10, 2019
3.5***
Book four in the Chet and Bernie mystery series. Bernie is hired to be a “bodyguard” for a woman who fears her ex-husband, as she goes to Parents’ Weekend to visit her son at a remote mountain camp. But when they arrive, her ex is no where to be found, and neither is her son, who’s gone missing on an overnight hiking trip. Luckily, they brought Chet along, a great tracking dog (and the narrator of this series).
I love Chet the Jet! Quinn has managed to give him a personality that befits a dog. He’s easily distracted by food or squirrels, given to taking things too literally (still looking for that wild goose that never seems to be present despite Bernie’s commenting on the wild goose chase they’re on), loyal to a fault, and courageous. I find looking at the mystery and the events that unfold through Chet’s eyes simply delightful and fun.
Book four in the Chet and Bernie mystery series. Bernie is hired to be a “bodyguard” for a woman who fears her ex-husband, as she goes to Parents’ Weekend to visit her son at a remote mountain camp. But when they arrive, her ex is no where to be found, and neither is her son, who’s gone missing on an overnight hiking trip. Luckily, they brought Chet along, a great tracking dog (and the narrator of this series).
I love Chet the Jet! Quinn has managed to give him a personality that befits a dog. He’s easily distracted by food or squirrels, given to taking things too literally (still looking for that wild goose that never seems to be present despite Bernie’s commenting on the wild goose chase they’re on), loyal to a fault, and courageous. I find looking at the mystery and the events that unfold through Chet’s eyes simply delightful and fun.
September 16, 2017
There's something about Chet, Private Eye Bernie's dog, that is so appealing, sweet, and lovable, that you just want to eat him up. He narrates this story, as every story in this series, with a straightforward, often hilariously literal, view of the world that is undeniably accurate. Reading these books puts me in the safe, comfortable, happy place that I simply want to be in - in between taxing my mind with more convoluted reads & digesting stressful current events. The best tonic for what ails you. Thank you, Spencer Quinn!!!!!
January 7, 2022
Having these mysteries written in Chet the Jet's POV is the best! Tip Top!
October 25, 2012
This is my third Chet & Bernie read, so maybe the novelty is wearing off. I still love the dog's-point-of-view narration, which can be quite funny at times, but reading the same dog-think phrases over and over again from one book to the next eventually gets dull. I know, it's a dog, fer crissakes! I should expect Shakespearean erudition? The mystery this time seemed only half-baked, and all three books followed exactly the same pattern:
1. Bernie is hired for an innocuous job.
2. Seemingly peripheral events involve the team in murderous circumstances.
3. Bernie and Chet get separated.
4. Bernie's girlfriend/reporter Suzie gets the wrong impression.
5. Bernie and Chet are reunited.
6. Suzie helps solve mystery.
Because the dog (Chet, if you didn't know) is so likeable, I will probably pick up another in the series, and I highly recommend the first book (Dog On It). ...wait...SQUIRREL!!! ...Now where was I?
1. Bernie is hired for an innocuous job.
2. Seemingly peripheral events involve the team in murderous circumstances.
3. Bernie and Chet get separated.
4. Bernie's girlfriend/reporter Suzie gets the wrong impression.
5. Bernie and Chet are reunited.
6. Suzie helps solve mystery.
Because the dog (Chet, if you didn't know) is so likeable, I will probably pick up another in the series, and I highly recommend the first book (Dog On It). ...wait...SQUIRREL!!! ...Now where was I?
August 7, 2012
Chet is my absolutely most favourite dog detective. Each book he gets almost slightly better at putting together and remembering complex thoughts, until he gets distracted by dog things such as bacon, other dogs, treats, mentions of bacon.
When he has those epiphanous near-complex thought moments, I'm, like, dog savant...oh, so close.
But Chet isn't working on his own here. Bernie is the human part of the successful Chet and Bernie team. Each has their skills. And just like Harry Dresden, in each book, the team goes through the grist mill. Both take serious blows from perps. Perps who often end up in orange jumpsuits breaking rocks in the hot sun...as Chet tells it.
This team works because they have each other, they know each other, they rely on each other, and they go through whatever they have to to protect each others backs. The best detective duo ever.
When he has those epiphanous near-complex thought moments, I'm, like, dog savant...oh, so close.
But Chet isn't working on his own here. Bernie is the human part of the successful Chet and Bernie team. Each has their skills. And just like Harry Dresden, in each book, the team goes through the grist mill. Both take serious blows from perps. Perps who often end up in orange jumpsuits breaking rocks in the hot sun...as Chet tells it.
This team works because they have each other, they know each other, they rely on each other, and they go through whatever they have to to protect each others backs. The best detective duo ever.
December 18, 2011
Chet isn't a cat, but I love this series. Chet isn't a talking dog, but this book is told through his point of view. We know everything he's thinking and it makes me laugh when he gets distracted in his storytelling by food. He does love his food! LOL
The story itself almost takes a backseat for me. I just love hearing about Chet's devotion for his "partner" Bernie and vice versa. Chet has amazing hero worship for his human.
I have to admit, whenever Chet is separated from Bernie, I get incredibly worried (even though logically I know this will have a good ending). Spencer Quinn has really scored well with this series. It's fun and even more enjoyable as an audio book. It makes my commute much nicer.
The story itself almost takes a backseat for me. I just love hearing about Chet's devotion for his "partner" Bernie and vice versa. Chet has amazing hero worship for his human.
I have to admit, whenever Chet is separated from Bernie, I get incredibly worried (even though logically I know this will have a good ending). Spencer Quinn has really scored well with this series. It's fun and even more enjoyable as an audio book. It makes my commute much nicer.
September 6, 2023
Chet and Bernie are on the trail of a child abductor. At first, they think it's the father, but soon enough, another, darker possibility crops up.
Meanwhile, a puppy who looks just like Chet turns up, with a lot of messy dog emotions.
I don't think I like this as much as I should in theory.
Meanwhile, a puppy who looks just like Chet turns up, with a lot of messy dog emotions.
I don't think I like this as much as I should in theory.
March 31, 2020
I’ve been having a real hard time concentrating lately. So I decided to look on my shelves for a comfort read. What could make a pandemic go away? My favorite detective duo, Chet and Bernie fit the bill.
These don’t require a lot of thinking…they’re just charming especially if you’re a dog lover and who doesn’t love dogs. There is a lot of dialogue and whatever witticisms there are come from the viewpoint of Chet…who is the dog. Chet has some favorite sayings that you come to love like an old chewed on shoe. Chet calls dogs “the nation within the nation” and he gravitates toward people who like “my kind”. He has deep thoughts and then gets distracted by a smell or food…common things that dogs get distracted by. It’s all very well done.
In this episode, Chet and Bernie are searching for a missing child. The mysteries are predictable and never really intriguing but then, that’s not why I read them. I read them for Chet. If Spencer Quinn ever stops writing these, I will be very sad.
These don’t require a lot of thinking…they’re just charming especially if you’re a dog lover and who doesn’t love dogs. There is a lot of dialogue and whatever witticisms there are come from the viewpoint of Chet…who is the dog. Chet has some favorite sayings that you come to love like an old chewed on shoe. Chet calls dogs “the nation within the nation” and he gravitates toward people who like “my kind”. He has deep thoughts and then gets distracted by a smell or food…common things that dogs get distracted by. It’s all very well done.
In this episode, Chet and Bernie are searching for a missing child. The mysteries are predictable and never really intriguing but then, that’s not why I read them. I read them for Chet. If Spencer Quinn ever stops writing these, I will be very sad.
May 8, 2016
I loved Quinn's first 2 books; I flew through these with anticipation, grins, and ultimate satisfaction that all was right with the world. In this one, I started flying as usual, but about a third of the way through, l lost an engine, and I had to fight to keep turning the pages. Eventually, a wing was too badly damaged -- I lost interest and the book went down. On the table. I was sad.
August 9, 2023
Such fun. Formulaic? Yes, but then it’s narrated by hundred pounder plus canine, so what do you expect? I don’t care. Chet and Bernie just make me happy.
August 26, 2019
Probably the best of the series I've read so far. I hadn't read one for a few years.
April 8, 2022
9.5 out of 10 stars. This was a good storyline. The bad guys in this story are really bad. This is a good series to read, and I am going to read them all. I prefer reading hardback books, but so far I have found only paperback in this series.
February 24, 2018
I loved the pov being from the dog - all those yummy and not so yummy smells - and now he's a bit distracted because he can sense there's bacon cooking somewhere or maybe it's that burger joint round the corner, so the reader isn't quite sure what was said in that conversation (though as it turns out, mostly we just miss the boring bits: a handy device to cut down on waffle).
Chet is a lovely narrator, humorous and distinctively voiced. Two things I thought worked especially well: the way he loves loves loves Bernie, down to his shell-like ears and smellicious flip flops - yeah, dog-like devotion is real and so much less complicated than the human kind; and his general joyousness especially in the presence of food, which is an unending delight. For Chet, that is.
Quibbles - the cover doesn't work. As a long term border collie partner - mine have weighed between 14 and 28 kilos, nowhere near 100 pounds. Chet's a BIG DOG - I feel he should be wolf-like, husky or akina or german shepherd. Also, I'm fairly sure dogs can't perceive colour - but willing to overlook that, would be quite boring if narrator can only see in black and white.
A plausible and interesting mystery, charming relationships, unpleasant bad guys, and I liked the way Chet has to team up with Suzie to save Bernie's bacon - a strong, active female protagonist as well. All in all a highly entertaining, enjoyable read.
For more of Brin's reviews go to:
http://www.brinmurray.com/
Chet is a lovely narrator, humorous and distinctively voiced. Two things I thought worked especially well: the way he loves loves loves Bernie, down to his shell-like ears and smellicious flip flops - yeah, dog-like devotion is real and so much less complicated than the human kind; and his general joyousness especially in the presence of food, which is an unending delight. For Chet, that is.
Quibbles - the cover doesn't work. As a long term border collie partner - mine have weighed between 14 and 28 kilos, nowhere near 100 pounds. Chet's a BIG DOG - I feel he should be wolf-like, husky or akina or german shepherd. Also, I'm fairly sure dogs can't perceive colour - but willing to overlook that, would be quite boring if narrator can only see in black and white.
A plausible and interesting mystery, charming relationships, unpleasant bad guys, and I liked the way Chet has to team up with Suzie to save Bernie's bacon - a strong, active female protagonist as well. All in all a highly entertaining, enjoyable read.
For more of Brin's reviews go to:
http://www.brinmurray.com/
April 18, 2023
I truly enjoy this particular series of books. The cases are rather interesting and tend to be deep, but not so deep that it takes full concentration. I truly love how Spencer Quinn has been able to capture the dog’s perspective in this book and since I am a dog person I tend to find myself laughing at the little dog gestures and thoughts of that pop-up throughout the book. Super entertaining for sure.
This particular book is one of my favorites as they case being solved is very interesting and I was not easily able to tell who the perpetrator(s) were, so I just we left having to think the story line through.
This particular book is one of my favorites as they case being solved is very interesting and I was not easily able to tell who the perpetrator(s) were, so I just we left having to think the story line through.
January 10, 2014
In this 4th book of the Chet and Bernie series, a simple bodyguard gig quickly morphs into a missing person case and ...(yep!) murder. In case you are unfamiliar with the series, Chet is the canine “partner” and Bernie the human half of the Bernie Little Detective Agency. Perpetually low on cash, Bernie Little reluctantly agrees to accept a job as body-guard, to protect lovely, somewhat dim, Anya Vereen from her ex-husband. She is to drive to Big Bear Wilderness Camp to visit her son Devin. There, she will meet up with the ex, Guy. However, when they get to the camp, Devin is missing after a routine overnight and hike, and Anya's husband is a “no show.”
Shady characters abound. First, there is Ranger Rob who is supposed to be in charge of the camp, but hardly seems either wilderness savy or even very fit for duty. Then, there's the surly, remarkably uncurious guide, Turk, whom Ranger Bob insists is loved by the kids. Turk was in charge of the overnight, and the last to see the missing Devin. The local sheriff and his deputy seem curiously intent on sidelining Chet and Bernie from the missing persons search, despite the obvious advantage of Chet's keen nose. Then, there's the suspicious absence of Anya's ex-husband.
Chet is the star of this series. If he were a human, one might label him with attention deficit disorder. As a dog, however, his distractibility and impulsiveness feel perfect. That low growl at an unwelcome human or the draft created by his wagging tail – Chet himself is surprised by these unconscious signals his body is giving him. What fills his mind are the memories of the many “perps” he has helped outfit in orange jumpsuits, and the smells of nervousness from the humans Bernie is interrogating. Chet is everything one could want in a partner. He's loyal, optimistic, and full of heart. Plus, he has those keen canine senses. Always inquisitive, he has broadened his education by careful observation of the Discovery Channel. Even so, he's frequently stymied by human discourse. When Ranger Rob babbles inanely about the camp's philosophy of self-reliance, Bernie mutters with disgust under his breath about the supreme self-reliance of the Donner Party. Chet puzzles: “Bernie and I had been to lots of parties, which is maybe why I didn't remember that specific one.”
The most desperate of circumstances fail to put a dent in Chet's self-confident resourcefulness. It's that quality of reliability combined with his unique canine perspective that keep me hooked on this series. Reading these books is like re-encountering an old friend. It's a relaxing and entertaining interlude to whatever else you may have been doing. I've been reading the books in order, but that's really not necessary. Each of the books stands on it's own.
Shady characters abound. First, there is Ranger Rob who is supposed to be in charge of the camp, but hardly seems either wilderness savy or even very fit for duty. Then, there's the surly, remarkably uncurious guide, Turk, whom Ranger Bob insists is loved by the kids. Turk was in charge of the overnight, and the last to see the missing Devin. The local sheriff and his deputy seem curiously intent on sidelining Chet and Bernie from the missing persons search, despite the obvious advantage of Chet's keen nose. Then, there's the suspicious absence of Anya's ex-husband.
Chet is the star of this series. If he were a human, one might label him with attention deficit disorder. As a dog, however, his distractibility and impulsiveness feel perfect. That low growl at an unwelcome human or the draft created by his wagging tail – Chet himself is surprised by these unconscious signals his body is giving him. What fills his mind are the memories of the many “perps” he has helped outfit in orange jumpsuits, and the smells of nervousness from the humans Bernie is interrogating. Chet is everything one could want in a partner. He's loyal, optimistic, and full of heart. Plus, he has those keen canine senses. Always inquisitive, he has broadened his education by careful observation of the Discovery Channel. Even so, he's frequently stymied by human discourse. When Ranger Rob babbles inanely about the camp's philosophy of self-reliance, Bernie mutters with disgust under his breath about the supreme self-reliance of the Donner Party. Chet puzzles: “Bernie and I had been to lots of parties, which is maybe why I didn't remember that specific one.”
The most desperate of circumstances fail to put a dent in Chet's self-confident resourcefulness. It's that quality of reliability combined with his unique canine perspective that keep me hooked on this series. Reading these books is like re-encountering an old friend. It's a relaxing and entertaining interlude to whatever else you may have been doing. I've been reading the books in order, but that's really not necessary. Each of the books stands on it's own.
August 19, 2012
What a dog! Chet is back for his next adventure, ably assisting Bernie Little to crack a missing child case, his favorite, while shutting down a corrupt blackmailing operation and meth lab. Our intrepid duo is hired to accompany a divorcee who is visiting her son at camp and doesn't want a confrontation with her ex. Lo and behold! When they get there, the kid is missing and Bernie's brain and Chet's nose come into play. When a crucial witness is murdered, Bernie is framed by the crooked sheriff and crookered judge. Then one of Bernie's rivals produces a legal paper giving him custody of Chet. Even though the perp thinks Chet is going to take that lying down, the reader has faith in Chet. He will get back to Bernie no matter what it takes. Even Suzie Sanchez gets into the detecting business and manages to threaten the judge into releasing Bernie. As expected, Bernie finds the missing kid, outfits the sheriff, the judge, and the two bumbling deputies with orange jumpsuits, and sends them to crack rocks in the sun. Chet adds another pantleg to his collar. But all is not perfect. Another Porsche bites the dust! Have I mentioned that I hate mysteries? However, I can't wait for the next Chet and Bernie mystery. I love that dog but I just wish I knew what breed he is supposed to be. The cover looks like a border collie. Oh yes, I want to hear more about the puppy. Great characters!
January 11, 2012
“The Dog Who Knew Too Much” by Spencer Quinn, published by Atria Books.
Category – Mystery/Thriller
This is the fourth installment in the Chet and Bernie series and it fits in beautifully with the other three books.
I you have not read this series the story is told from Chet’s perspective. Chet is the dog and it is quite refreshing to have a story that sees us humans from another view. It can be funny and confusing at times, at least from Chet’s vantage point.
Bernie is a private eye, a good private eye, but usually gets involved in cases that either do not pay or not pay well. Therefore, he and Chet are always struggling to make ends meet.
In “The Dog Who Knew Too Much” Chet and Bernie are asked to look into a missing child. Devin has gone missing at Big Bear Wilderness Camp. Our duo finds out very quickly that they are not just looking for a lost boy but also have become involved in a meth lab, money laundering scheme, and murder.
Our duo becomes a trio when Bernie is jailed on a murder charge and Chet teams up with Bernie’s girlfriend, Suzie, who must help Bernie get out of jail and bring this case to a close.
A very easy read and one that provides a respite from the more serious books we may have been reading.
Category – Mystery/Thriller
This is the fourth installment in the Chet and Bernie series and it fits in beautifully with the other three books.
I you have not read this series the story is told from Chet’s perspective. Chet is the dog and it is quite refreshing to have a story that sees us humans from another view. It can be funny and confusing at times, at least from Chet’s vantage point.
Bernie is a private eye, a good private eye, but usually gets involved in cases that either do not pay or not pay well. Therefore, he and Chet are always struggling to make ends meet.
In “The Dog Who Knew Too Much” Chet and Bernie are asked to look into a missing child. Devin has gone missing at Big Bear Wilderness Camp. Our duo finds out very quickly that they are not just looking for a lost boy but also have become involved in a meth lab, money laundering scheme, and murder.
Our duo becomes a trio when Bernie is jailed on a murder charge and Chet teams up with Bernie’s girlfriend, Suzie, who must help Bernie get out of jail and bring this case to a close.
A very easy read and one that provides a respite from the more serious books we may have been reading.
July 19, 2011
Bernie and Chet are partners in a private detective agency. The difference with this partnership is that Chet is a dog. Chet narrates our story, the fourth in the Chet & Bernie series.
Chet is a fantastic narrator. He’s a failed police K9 dog and he adores Bernie, frequently referring to things Bernie has said in the past. He takes things very literally at times, “keep your eyes peeled” and “keep your eye on the ball” being typical examples that have Chet puzzling. He can also go off at a complete tangent and start waffling about completely unrelated events. These ramblings did bring a smile to my face.
The story itself is a typical thriller beginning with the disappearance of a child and ending with conspiracy and drugs in a small town. There’s a temptation to class this as a cosy mystery because of the dog angle but the writer has avoided sentimentality and quirkiness in the humans featured in the story and so manages to avoid the “cosy” stamp.
Considering this is the fourth in a series it works well as a stand alone, I didn’t feel as if I was missing out on any back story and would happily read the others in the series.
July 25, 2013
Chet and Bernie are private detectives. Well, Bernie is a private detective. Chet is his dog - a police dog (almost!) that failed to make it all of the way through his training. The story is told completely told from the perspective of Chet, the dog who pretty much understands human society, at least enough to tell the story. What he does know for sure is that he and Bernie are inseparable partners and they always have each others' back.
In The Dog Who Knew Too Much Bernie is hard up for money again (Bernie can generate income but he likes to speculate in questionable investments) and he accepts what should be a simple job - pretend to be a woman's boyfriend while she goes to pick up her son at a summer camp in the mountains so that her ex-husband will finally understand that their romantic relationship is over. He quickly determines that this ex-husband has a violent past and is involved in shady business involving lots of money and makes a mental note that this case may be more than his client has described.
It turns out that there is more to this case...
Read more at: http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2013/...
In The Dog Who Knew Too Much Bernie is hard up for money again (Bernie can generate income but he likes to speculate in questionable investments) and he accepts what should be a simple job - pretend to be a woman's boyfriend while she goes to pick up her son at a summer camp in the mountains so that her ex-husband will finally understand that their romantic relationship is over. He quickly determines that this ex-husband has a violent past and is involved in shady business involving lots of money and makes a mental note that this case may be more than his client has described.
It turns out that there is more to this case...
Read more at: http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2013/...
August 14, 2016
"The Dog Who Knew Too Much" is the fourth of Spencer Quinn's series about private-eye Bernie Little and his faithful canine Chet. These books are entertaining, since the narrative is told through the eyes of Chet, the dog. Most of us have probably wondered at one time or another what our pet dog might be thinking in certain circumstances. Quinn light-heartedly answers that question in his books.
Chet had failed out of police K9 school before Bernie adopted him. So Chet has the makings of a fine police dog, albeit somewhat confused on occasion by the idioms used in common English language, and predictably distracted by the smell of bacon or the sight of a she-dog.
If you read this book, you're probably going to enjoy the antics of Chet as he "helps" Bernie solve his case and bring the bad-guy(s) to justice. And you probably won't care much if there are a few gaps in the logic of solving the crime and resolving the case. The book is a fun summer read, especially for dog lovers everywhere.
Chet had failed out of police K9 school before Bernie adopted him. So Chet has the makings of a fine police dog, albeit somewhat confused on occasion by the idioms used in common English language, and predictably distracted by the smell of bacon or the sight of a she-dog.
If you read this book, you're probably going to enjoy the antics of Chet as he "helps" Bernie solve his case and bring the bad-guy(s) to justice. And you probably won't care much if there are a few gaps in the logic of solving the crime and resolving the case. The book is a fun summer read, especially for dog lovers everywhere.
January 11, 2014
This series continues to grow on me. Telling the story from the dog’s point of view keeps it fresh and entertaining.
Quinn avoids the mistake of portraying Chet as a super-intelligent, human-thinking dog by having him tell this tale (and other in the series) in a somewhat rambling narrative full of minor asides, distractions, and repetitions. Reviewers of other books in this series have called this repetition annoying, but it just proves Quinn has doggie thought processes down pat. Chet ‘reads’ human emotions – especially Bernie’s – with great ease, but has trouble understanding human emotions and gently mocks their inability to smell and hear things as well as he can.
As long as Quinn keeps this series on track, I’ll read each one. But I still would like to see Bernie a little more attuned to Chet's actions so that Chet becomes more of an active partner in their cases.
Quinn avoids the mistake of portraying Chet as a super-intelligent, human-thinking dog by having him tell this tale (and other in the series) in a somewhat rambling narrative full of minor asides, distractions, and repetitions. Reviewers of other books in this series have called this repetition annoying, but it just proves Quinn has doggie thought processes down pat. Chet ‘reads’ human emotions – especially Bernie’s – with great ease, but has trouble understanding human emotions and gently mocks their inability to smell and hear things as well as he can.
As long as Quinn keeps this series on track, I’ll read each one. But I still would like to see Bernie a little more attuned to Chet's actions so that Chet becomes more of an active partner in their cases.
October 11, 2017
Disappointed in this one. it was like he took elements from his previous 3 novels and just rearranged them for this one. he phoned it in. i hope number 5 in the series is not like this. i mean i can understand a pattern forming and rehashing old ideas on say number 10 in a series (most authors do this) but not in number 4. book number 4 by an author should still have fresh ideas,if not they need to hang it up.
like previous books- bernie and chet are separated and basically kidnapped, a kid is held for ransom cuz the dad is a criminal that is being punished/pressured, and dirty law enforcement in a small town. like really Quinn? this is just lazy. i, of course, figured out what was going to happen every step of the way because i had already read it in the previous novels. but Chet as always was quite an entertaining narrator but the mystery and thriller aspect was zilch .
like previous books- bernie and chet are separated and basically kidnapped, a kid is held for ransom cuz the dad is a criminal that is being punished/pressured, and dirty law enforcement in a small town. like really Quinn? this is just lazy. i, of course, figured out what was going to happen every step of the way because i had already read it in the previous novels. but Chet as always was quite an entertaining narrator but the mystery and thriller aspect was zilch .
July 27, 2017
Would have given this five stars, but knew that nothing could rank up there with my first exposure to Chet & Bernie, since they were such a genuine pleasure to discover in the first book. This is the fourth (and latest) in the series, and aside from the first book is the best. While the middle two books were good, they relied a bit too heavily on the cute missing animal gimmick, and repeated the California desert setting. This latest book, however, avoids both those pitfalls and brings a renewed freshness to the series, (not that either of the middle books were bad – I mean, come on, it’s Chet & Bernie!). I will certainly continue reading as new books come out, and hope that Spencer Quinn continues to come up with fresh variations on a most enjoyable theme.
September 11, 2011
Chet and Bernie are back in action in the series' fourth book, this time they've accepted a lucrative bodyguarding gig that turns into the hunt for a missing little boy. Add in a shady fellow trying to steal Chet and a much enhanced roll by the erstwhile reporter and girlfriend Suzy and you have yet another rollicking ride with The Little Detective Agency. Then there's the question of a puppy from across the valley that looks like a perfect miniature version of Chet.... Another fun adventure from Quinn, and really, what's not to like about Chet and Bernie, right?
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