Elvis and Susie Bear! Two beautiful working dogs with two ex-military owners with chemistry; Four characters to adore along with a doting grandmother veterinarian .
What's not to love in this book.
Looking forward to book 2.
What's not to love in this book.
Looking forward to book 2.
I really was surprised by this book! I expected something similar to a cozy but this was not a cozy. The plot was intricate enough to keep my attention and the character development was excellent! There were moments of lighthearted humor and there were nail biting moments - a great combination! I loved the descriptions of the dogs and their behaviors. I will definitely plan to read the next book in this series!
Excellent Book. First one I have read by this author. I will be reading more of hers.
Melissa B. (dragoneyes) -
The beginning of this book came off strong. I was immediately entranced and wanted more. Throughout out the book, probably a little more than half way, it started to lose me. It was mainly because the story started plodding along. Seemed like it stretched out a bit too far. It also started to feel a bit cliche like too many other mystery books. Then there was our main character, Mercy. In the beginning I really liked her but as the story moved on, the feeling started to evaporate. She started coming of as a know-it-all and too perfect. The constant quotes started getting unnerving as well. Luckily, the dogs, Elvis & Susie Bear, were great characters along with the vet grandmother, Patience. The ending, though satisfactory, seemed a lot like a Scooby-Doo episode. After the bad guy is caught, everyone gets together to explain everything that went on. Good but kind of cheesy. There is a good chance that I will try the 2nd book and hope that it stays more like the beginning of this book.
Engrossing story, about a retired MP and her former military dog. Both are recovering from psychological wounds of war. They get involved with goings-on in their town, and it's interesting to see (especially) the dog in action. She befriends the local game warden who also has a trained search dog.
There is one thing I hated throughout this entire story. Every time they had to feed the dogs, they fed them the worst kind of people-food you can imagine: loaded pizza, hotdogs, fast food burgers and fries, sausages, cheese sandwich, ham, bacon, mustard! Geez, makes you wonder if the author ever had a dog before!
There is one thing I hated throughout this entire story. Every time they had to feed the dogs, they fed them the worst kind of people-food you can imagine: loaded pizza, hotdogs, fast food burgers and fries, sausages, cheese sandwich, ham, bacon, mustard! Geez, makes you wonder if the author ever had a dog before!
Not entirely certain about this one. Due to a health issue and a lot of election watching, I read this in bursts of 2 or 3 pages at a time over several days instead of just sitting down with it. It's quite possible I missed some bits. I started it thinking, great, what a promising beginning with two appealing main characters and their even more appealing dogs. Liked the intro to Mercy and Elvis, liked Troy and Susie Bear, and the small-town rural setting was great. But it seemed to get very convoluted. Was it a story about a young woman and baby being held against their will? A domestic terrorist group? Wait, art thieves? Then a rather unlikely action scene at the end. But all in all, I liked the characters well enough I would read the next in the series.
SUSAN S. (susieqmillsacoustics) -
Such a pleasant read. I like these characters and this town. But I love, love, love Elvis and Susie Bear! A joy for us dog lovers.
Cathy C. (cathyskye) -
I've quickly become hooked on mysteries featuring working dogs-- especially military or police dogs. I think it's because the bond between human and dog is so strong and because the dog's capabilities are extraordinary. When I learned of this first Mercy and Elvis mystery, I knew I had to read it, and the only thing I can say now is that I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
A Borrowing of Bones is fast-paced and well-plotted, with a mystery that keeps readers guessing. Munier also makes her Vermont setting come to life, so much so that I wanted to book the next flight there. Not only do you get a feel for the lifestyle of the people living there, you can also do a bit of fantasizing since the main characters have what would be to me dream homes. (Mercy and Elvis in a perfect cabin deep in the woods complete with a fireplace and a wall of books, and Troy and Susie Bear in a converted fire lookout tower.)
However, the characters of Mercy, Elvis, Troy, and Susie Bear are what really matter. Mercy has a lot of sharp edges and bad memories. With the special bond between Martinez and Elvis, she's always felt like an outsider, as though the man and his dog were a closed circuit. She's got a lot to work through, and Troy quickly discovers that it's going to be a challenge to get to know her. I also liked the fact that Elvis has canine PTSD since most people probably aren't aware that dogs can suffer from it. Yes, compared to Mercy and Elvis, Troy and Susie Bear are big softies, so this is a relationship that's going to be fun to watch develop.
If you like fast-paced, intriguing mysteries in vivid settings that are filled with multi-faceted characters and wonderful working dogs, I strongly recommend that you get in on the ground floor of the Mercy and Elvis series. A Borrowing of Bones is a winner.
A Borrowing of Bones is fast-paced and well-plotted, with a mystery that keeps readers guessing. Munier also makes her Vermont setting come to life, so much so that I wanted to book the next flight there. Not only do you get a feel for the lifestyle of the people living there, you can also do a bit of fantasizing since the main characters have what would be to me dream homes. (Mercy and Elvis in a perfect cabin deep in the woods complete with a fireplace and a wall of books, and Troy and Susie Bear in a converted fire lookout tower.)
However, the characters of Mercy, Elvis, Troy, and Susie Bear are what really matter. Mercy has a lot of sharp edges and bad memories. With the special bond between Martinez and Elvis, she's always felt like an outsider, as though the man and his dog were a closed circuit. She's got a lot to work through, and Troy quickly discovers that it's going to be a challenge to get to know her. I also liked the fact that Elvis has canine PTSD since most people probably aren't aware that dogs can suffer from it. Yes, compared to Mercy and Elvis, Troy and Susie Bear are big softies, so this is a relationship that's going to be fun to watch develop.
If you like fast-paced, intriguing mysteries in vivid settings that are filled with multi-faceted characters and wonderful working dogs, I strongly recommend that you get in on the ground floor of the Mercy and Elvis series. A Borrowing of Bones is a winner.
