Barbara D. (barbiedor) -
Helpful Score: 9
Ellie discovers her dog Rudy, who died 10 yrs. ago, is "reborn" in the dog she adopts from a shelter. She also finds she can talk with Rudy & the dogs she walks in her business, "Paws in Motion". A sexy detective, a good mystery & the funny exchanges between Ellie & her dogs make this an entertaining story.
I was also happy to see the author is donating all royalties from the sale of this book to Best Friends Animal Society. She is planning a dozen more books in the series. I'm looking forward to them.
I was also happy to see the author is donating all royalties from the sale of this book to Best Friends Animal Society. She is planning a dozen more books in the series. I'm looking forward to them.
Helpful Score: 5
this book was great!!! I found this while missing my dog show mysteries from Berenson!! Judi McCoy did a great job~ I will look forward to her next book in the series....
Cathy C. (cathyskye) -
Helpful Score: 2
First Line: "Psst. Down here."
Ellie Engleman is the new dog walker on Manhattan's Upper East Side, and she has an advantage that her competitors don't: she can hear what her canine clientele is thinking. When the owner of one of her charges is murdered and the dog disappears, at first Ellie is concerned solely with the missing dog's safety. It doesn't take long, however, for her to start looking for the killer.
Not being familiar with someplace like New York City, I had no idea how well-paid dog walkers can be-- or how cutthroat their business when faced with unscrupulous competitors. From a business standpoint alone, I enjoyed this book, but there are many other things to like about Hounding the Pavement.
I liked Ellie. She's different from many amateur sleuths because she does not watch police or crime programs on television, so she's really a novice at detecting. I also liked how much she cared for the dogs in her charge, and I liked the conversations she held with them because each dog had a different personality and sometimes focused on some rather strange things. If any dog owner/lover thinks about it, holding conversations with canines isn't unusual. The closer you are to the animal, the easier it is to decipher their thought processes. Having Ellie learning clues from her charges really didn't take me out of my comfort zone. (I guess I've conversed with too many dogs myself.)
Author Judi McCoy had me feeling at home walking the streets of Manhattan, and Ellie's friends were an interesting bunch. As far as the identity of the killer goes, there were two main "bad guys," which narrowed down the field, but what was more surprising were the reasons behind the murder and the disappearance of the dog.
There's only one character I wish would have a major makeover before the next book in the series: Ellie's mother. The woman has wealth-- mainly through her many marriages-- and she's one of these women who "have standards" and thinks what Ellie does for a living is beneath her. Anyone who's read my blog for any length of time knows that I do not care for interfering mothers (or mothers-in-law for that matter).
To take my mind off Mommy Dearest, Ellie has a hot romantic interest in the lead detective on the case, Sam Ryder, who learns that, although Ellie may not watch CSI, she's got an uncanny ability to ferret out information and think things through to their logical conclusions. The interest between the two eventually turns very steamy and a bit graphic, so if that isn't your cup of tea, keep that in mind.
As for me, I wiped the steam off my glasses and enjoyed the characters, the banter, the humor, the streets of Manhattan, and-- of course-- the dogs. Judi McCoy has written an engaging book, and I look forward to reading the next in the series.
Ellie Engleman is the new dog walker on Manhattan's Upper East Side, and she has an advantage that her competitors don't: she can hear what her canine clientele is thinking. When the owner of one of her charges is murdered and the dog disappears, at first Ellie is concerned solely with the missing dog's safety. It doesn't take long, however, for her to start looking for the killer.
Not being familiar with someplace like New York City, I had no idea how well-paid dog walkers can be-- or how cutthroat their business when faced with unscrupulous competitors. From a business standpoint alone, I enjoyed this book, but there are many other things to like about Hounding the Pavement.
I liked Ellie. She's different from many amateur sleuths because she does not watch police or crime programs on television, so she's really a novice at detecting. I also liked how much she cared for the dogs in her charge, and I liked the conversations she held with them because each dog had a different personality and sometimes focused on some rather strange things. If any dog owner/lover thinks about it, holding conversations with canines isn't unusual. The closer you are to the animal, the easier it is to decipher their thought processes. Having Ellie learning clues from her charges really didn't take me out of my comfort zone. (I guess I've conversed with too many dogs myself.)
Author Judi McCoy had me feeling at home walking the streets of Manhattan, and Ellie's friends were an interesting bunch. As far as the identity of the killer goes, there were two main "bad guys," which narrowed down the field, but what was more surprising were the reasons behind the murder and the disappearance of the dog.
There's only one character I wish would have a major makeover before the next book in the series: Ellie's mother. The woman has wealth-- mainly through her many marriages-- and she's one of these women who "have standards" and thinks what Ellie does for a living is beneath her. Anyone who's read my blog for any length of time knows that I do not care for interfering mothers (or mothers-in-law for that matter).
To take my mind off Mommy Dearest, Ellie has a hot romantic interest in the lead detective on the case, Sam Ryder, who learns that, although Ellie may not watch CSI, she's got an uncanny ability to ferret out information and think things through to their logical conclusions. The interest between the two eventually turns very steamy and a bit graphic, so if that isn't your cup of tea, keep that in mind.
As for me, I wiped the steam off my glasses and enjoyed the characters, the banter, the humor, the streets of Manhattan, and-- of course-- the dogs. Judi McCoy has written an engaging book, and I look forward to reading the next in the series.
Helpful Score: 1
Great fun -- relax and read!!
Helpful Score: 1
This a nice, light read that you can easily put down and pick up at a moment's notice, which is always a big plus in my book. The best part to me were the individual dog personalities that emerge from each pooch that Ellie encounters in the book.
Helpful Score: 1
A dog that talks to its owner? Right on the first page you are introduced to the talking dog. I knew right then that this book was not for me. I decided to give it 100 pages anyways. Once I was in, I had to find out who done it. If I subtracted all the dog talking parts, its not too bad. I have no problem with her talking to her dog, I have a problem with the dog talking back and she can understand. The dogs have too much personification going on. The book is way too predictable. By the middle of the book, you know who did it, but you still have to wait for her to catch up. You have to read another 100 pages or so before she figures it out. The book for the most part lacks details and where she did put details, who cares. There is no consistency in her writing. Did not care for the characters, I just could not like them. I have her second and on the list for her third but I think this will be my last.
Helpful Score: 1
An interesting, fun and sexy book. I am impressed that the author donated all royalties to Best Friends Animal Society, so she must really love animals. I plan to keep reading more of her books.
Helpful Score: 1
HANDS-DOWN one the absolute cutest cozy mysteries Ive read in quite some time. Filled with humor, mystery, and the back and forth squabbeling of a new love forming, Judi McCoy has created a one of a kind series that will leave the reader begging for more. I enjoyed this book very much and appreciated the fact it was read by both the main characters, Ellie and Sam. It reminded me of the writing style of Vicki Lewis Thompson: Blonde with a Wand. The conversations with the animals were at some points, quite histerical.
Without any real explanation of how it can happen, Ellie discovers she can hear the thoughts of her dog Rudy (with whom she was reunited with after he died years ago) Newly divorced, shes taken up the business of dogwalking in Manhatten, where its a cut-throat business in the dog walking industry.
Ellie's life is turned upside down when she discovers one of her clients dead in his apartment and the police show up at the scene of the crime, and his little Westminster Champion bichon, Buddy is missing. If only the police and sexy detective Sam Ryder would listen to her: Find the dog, find the killer.
Without any real explanation of how it can happen, Ellie discovers she can hear the thoughts of her dog Rudy (with whom she was reunited with after he died years ago) Newly divorced, shes taken up the business of dogwalking in Manhatten, where its a cut-throat business in the dog walking industry.
Ellie's life is turned upside down when she discovers one of her clients dead in his apartment and the police show up at the scene of the crime, and his little Westminster Champion bichon, Buddy is missing. If only the police and sexy detective Sam Ryder would listen to her: Find the dog, find the killer.
Helpful Score: 1
Great fun, light read. Definitely a series I will continue to read!
Sheila A. (mysterylady) -
Absolutely loved it! It was very easy to draw you in and a really quick read. This is the 1st book in the Dog Walker Mystery Series. While this is basically a cozy mystery it has some language and a sex scene.
I'm sorry to say that I really did not like this book. The premise was good and I had been looking forward to reading it, but could not get through the rather blatant sexual comments, and the four letter very bad word within the first 25 pages. Just not my cup of tea. Not a G rated cozy at all, 1/2 star.
Kathleen W. (catsandbooks) reviewed Hounding the Pavement (Dog Walker, Bk 1) on + 68 more book reviews
Enjoyable mystery/romance. Ellie had a disastrous marriage so is gun shy about relationships. Her new business walking dogs comes with a twist - she can hear what the dogs are "saying." A murder, a few lost dogs, a hunky policeman - makes for a fun read. Looking forward to the next in the series.
