Mutt Mysteries

I am stone deaf and live alone in a large house, but I never worry about break-ins because Trey handles that sort of thing for me. He could raise the roof with his barking, and it wouldn’t bother me because, as I said, I’m stone deaf. He could scare the bejeebers out of anyone who dared to enter without his approval, and, problem solved, pad happily up to me and explain what had happened. He can explain without words. Trey is a sweet, three-year-old bichon, the small white fluffs of the dog world, and a highly trained service dog who takes his job seriously. I named him Trey because he’s the third fluff I have owned and loved. Another dog, also a bichon, lives with us. I call her Kim because she reminds me of the young hero of Rudyard Kipling’s book—small, white, and desperately poor. More on her later. It started on an ordinary day when I was up in my third-floor observation deck. BTW, I am a mystery writer, and I publish under my real name of Jessica Chastain. Friends call me Jessie...

I don’t want to sound overly dramatic, but today was the day that would make or break me. As the sole proprietor of Ruff Day Doggie Boutique, I’d planned a huge marketing event. And if my big event didn’t go off as hoped/anticipated/prayed for, I’d be back slinging hash on the five-a.m. shift at Breakfast at Stephanie’s. Let me tell you, I am not a morning person. And Mr. Belvedere, my one hundred and forty-five-pound Great Dane, is not a morning dog. Life had been so much better since I’d become my own boss. Well, maybe not better financially, but in every other way. All the MBAs out there would shake their heads when they heard I’d blown an entire year’s marketing budget on a single event. Not a good business move, I know. I’d told myself that a thousand times. All the MBAs out there would shake their heads when they heard I’d blown an entire year’s marketing budget on a single event. Not a good business move, I know. I’d told myself that a thousand times. “Darby Agnes Moore!”...

H undreds of dogs covered almost every inch of outdoor space at the Stony Point Fashion Park. Delanie Fitzgerald waded through a sea of dogs and humans to the large stage in the plaza area. She looked around for her partner, Duncan Reynolds. Not seeing anyone who resembled the computer geek who was the other half of the Falcon Investigations team, she stood on a low stone wall for a better view. “Hey, there you are.” She hopped down and turned to face Duncan and his sidekick, Margaret, a brown and white English bulldog. In the office, Margaret had two speeds, slow and napping. Today, she seemed more interested in all the other dogs. “I’m glad you could come to support us,” he said. “Of course. You and Margaret are like family.” Delanie scanned the crowd of people, many in elaborate costumes that matched their dogs. Delanie’s favorites were the superheroes and their sidekicks. “We’ve got to get ready. Right after the Strut Your Mutt fashion show, Pickles will be signing autograp...

C att Ramsey grabbed a bag of dog treats from the Woof-Pack Dog Walker’s supply closet. She spun around and came face-to-face with Beau Whitaker. “Oh-mi-god!” She grabbed her chest. “You scared the holy crap out of me.” Beau, a handyman she had recently hired to fix things around her business, was a handsome, stockily built man with a large measure of southern charm. He smiled . “Sorry, darling. Didn’t mean to startle you.” “It’s okay. What’s up?” Catt’s Yorkshire terriers Cagney and Lacey stood behind Beau, growling. Catt released a heavy breath and closed the door. “Hush.” She waved her hand toward the dogs and turned her focus to Beau. “This.” Beau held up a green rope that usually held the key to the storage shed. They kept it hanging on a hook by the shed for easy access. “Where’s the key?” Catt asked. Beau shrugged. “Dunno.” Catt scooted around him in the narrow hallway and walked to her desk. She set the treats down. Cagney and Lacey followed, their noses sniffing ...

“Live like someone left the gate open” makes for a great meme. Not to mention a great philosophy of life…and book publishing! We will be opening the gates and unleashing the mutts in just THREE days!   They will run free in order to chase killers and bring justice to this crazy world. This is last post before you can get your copy and read it all! In the meantime, enjoy this insight into why the author chose the setting and then start reading the first few pages. Today’s feature… “THE FAST AND THE FURRIEST” by Heather Weidner We asked Heather where her story is set, and why she chose that location: I’m from Virginia, so I write what I know. Virginia is the setting for all my novels and stories. I needed a small town for this story to house my fictional racetrack. I chose Amelia, VA because it still has that small-town feel, while being relatively close to Richmond, the state capital. And now read this: CHAPTER ONE “I see you were attending to more impo...

The mutts are ready to run free on the beach! If the authors of To Fetch a Scoundrel would only unleash them!   Don’t worry, we will. On March 3 rd . Until then, this series of posts is digging deep into the reason the author set their story in a specific location, followed by the first few pages of the story to give you a taste of things to come! Today’s feature… “PAWSITIVELY SCANDALOUS” by Jayne Ormerod We asked Jayne where her story is set, and why she chose that location: Thanks to my husband’s career as a naval officer, I’ve spent the majority of my adult life living near a significant body of water. There’s something about sandy toes and sea breezes that sooth a troubled soul. As I learned from the many hours spent watching Murder, She Wrote, it’s a delicious juxtaposition when something as ugly as murder occurs in a bucolic coastal setting. Too delicious to ignore. As a result, I often set my stories in charming coastal towns that are a conglomerate of the ma...

Dogs yearn to run free! Our story mutts are no exception! They will be unleashed on March 3 when To Fetch a Scoundrel hits the sales floor .   This week we're offering “treats” to the reader, in the form of insights into why the author chose a particular setting, and a brief excerpt of the story. Today’s feature: “RUFF GOODBYE” by Rosemary Shomaker We asked Rosemary why she chose to set her story where she did: What prompted me to set “Ruff Goodbye" in a bar and a funeral home? I set the story in a bar and a funeral home because the contrast in settings interested me. When I think of funeral homes, I think of decorum, seriousness, and containment. As the ashes or body of the deceased are “contained” in an urn or a casket, so are the grief and emotions of funeral home visitors contained—until, for some, the bareness of death causes true feelings and honesty to leak or flare. We’ve all seen it. The sobs, outburst, or physical crumpling of one attendee dissolves t...

Who let the dogs out? Nobody…yet! But the Mutt Mystery authors are ready to release the hounds (and other breeds).  On March 3rd, you'll be able to purchase your copy of  To Fetch a Scoundrel, the 2nd installment in the Mutt Mysteries series . The four fun "tails" of scandal and murder showcase dogs of all shapes and sizes, with one thing in common: they help their owners chase down killers and bring them to justice.   This last week before the big release we're posting an excerpt from each story, and insight as to why an author chose a particular setting for their “tall tail.”   Today’s feature… “A DOGGONE SCANDAL” by Teresa Inge We asked Teresa where her story is set, and why she chose that location: I wrote “A Doggone Scandal” to continue featuring Catt Ramsey, a dog walker in the Mutt Mysteries Series. I take Catt and her dogs Cagney and Lacey on the road to the Outerbanks to solve a mysterious note in a pet supply order. Since I love t...

Oh where, oh where have our little dogs gone? They’re enjoying a day at The Pampered Pooch, getting paw-di-cures and fur-fluffings in anticipation of their big debut! Only 8 days until you will meet them and hear our mutts exciting “tails” of scandal and murder. Over the past few posts we’ve been teasing you with insights into the stories and how the author noodled up the premise. This is the last in that serie. Today’s Feature… “PAWSITIVELY SCANDALOUS” by Jayne Ormerod What’s with the crime wave in the Grant’s Garden neighborhood? First a respectable member is arrested for crimes unknown, then another neighbor dies under mysterious circumstances. Pilar Pruitt and her black Lab/mix Natti are on the case, and the secrets they uncover are paws-itively scandalous! We asked Jayne where she found inspiration for this story: When I needed a “scandal” for this story, I threw a couple of ideas against the wall. The one that stuck was based on an event that had happene...

Mutt Madness continues as we count down to March 3rd, when  To Fetch a Scoundrel, Four Fun “Tails” of Scandal and Murder will be released. This week's posts share a little about each story, and a peek behind the creative curtain as to where each author got her idea. Today’s feature… “RUFF GOODBYE” by Rosemary Shomaker Bar owner Len Hayes’ frenemy Perry Lambert brings misery to all. Len finds himself strong-armed into shady business dealing by Winks family human attack dog Rocco Moretti, compliments of Perry. Len’s grief over his best friend Curt’s cancer death imbalances him, and everything unravels at Curt’s funeral home visitation. The bar’s stoic black Lab and Curt’s miniature poodle have Len’s back and resolve the mayhem. We asked Rosemary where she found inspiration for her story: The peace and beauty of an actual funeral home were the inspiration for “Ruff Goodbye” in  To Fetch a Scoundrel . A member of my local mystery writing group, Sisters in...

We’re absolutely crazy-mad in anticipation of To Fetch a Scoundrel , the second installment in the Mutt Mysteries series . We want you to be excited, too! Mutt Madness continues as we share a little bit about the stories and where the authors found inspiration for their “tall tail.” Today’s feature is… “A DOGGONE SCANDAL” by Teresa Inge Catt Ramsey, owner of the Woof-Pack Dog Walkers, is back on the case when she receives a mysterious note in her pet supply order. Convinced the sender’s motive is scandalous, Catt packs up her SUV and heads to the Outer Banks with her sister Em, family friend Jonathan Ray, and pups Cagney and Lacey to solve the riddle. We asked Teresa where she found inspiration for this story: The inspiration for writing "A Doggone Scandal" is to continue writing about Catt Ramsey and her dogs Cagney and Lacey from book one of the Mutt Mysteries Series  To Fetch a Thief, Four Fun "Tails" of Theft and Murder ."  ...

“What’s Mutt Madness?” you ask? Why, it’s a party to celebrate the upcoming release of To Fetch a Scoundrel, the 2 nd installment in the Mutt Mysteries series. We know, we know…March 3rd is weeks away! And you want to hear more about these four fun “tails” of scandal and murder NOW ! So, we’ve designed a series of posts over the next week which will share with you a story summary, and also some insight into where the authors found inspiration for these "tall tails."  Today’s feature is…  “THE FAST AND THE FURRIEST” by Heather Weidner Isn’t there enough action under the lights at the Amelia Race Track without the drama of a love triangle? An altercation leads to murder, and owner Cassidy Green and her Rottweiler Oliver have to uncover clues and find the killer before the bad publicity destroys her business. We asked Heather where she found inspiration for this story: Years ago, my dad raced cars. He and my husband love to go to the races, especial...