Peggy Sue
Cozy Mysteries that Feature Dogs
A growing trend in the mystery book genre is the cozy mystery. This subgenre is less graphic, both in sexual and violent themes, as well as language. Even within a subgenre like cozies, there are still further subdivisions to be found. Some of these themes include supernatural, historical, culinary, gardening, bed and breakfast settings, and cozy mystery books with pets as sidekicks.
This paper will list some of the cozy mystery book authors who write mysteries that have dogs as on-going characters in the authors’ mystery book series.
Lydia Adamson: Adamson writes the Deirdre Quinn Nightingale mystery series which features a veterinarian sleuth.
Donna Ball: Ball writes a mystery series that features a dog ex-tracker who is accompanied by her Golden Retriever.
Cynthia Baxter: Many dogs are featured in Baxter’s Reigning Cats & Dogs mystery series.
Carol Lea Benjamin: A dog trainer who solves crimes is featured in Benjamin’s series.
Laurien Berenson: A special education teacher solves crimes in Berenson’s series, when she isn’t participating in dog shows.
Michael Bond: The Monsieur Pamplemousse mystery series by Michael Bond features a dog sidekick named Pommes Frites (French Fries.)
Rita Mae Brown: The Mrs. Murphy books feature a Corgi and some cats who do most of the sleuthing on their own.
Nancy Bush: The Jane Kelly mystery series includes a Pug.
Ann Campbell: A Siberian Husky/German Shepherd mix is the canine partner in Campbell’s mystery series.
Melissa Cleary: The Dog Lovers mystery series is written by Cleary, and features a professor as the sleuth.
Susan Conant: The Holly Winter series is about a dog magazine writer who also trains dogs.
Evelyn David: The Sullivan Investigations mystery series is about an Irish Wolfhound and his mortician owner.
Patricia Guiver: A Doberman Pinscher is the sidekick in Guiver’s Pet Detective series.
David Handler: Handler’s Stewart Hoag & Lulu mystery series features a Basset Hound.
Sue Henry: Two of Sue Henry’s series feature dogs prominently. The first is about an elderly widow who travels with her Dachshund and solves crimes, while the second is about an Alaskan dog sled racer.
Lee Charles Kelley: Kelley’s Continuing Adventures of Jack & Jamie includes a sleuth who trains dogs for a living.
Virginia Lanier: One of Lanier’s series features a Bloodhound trainer who solves crimes.
Judy McCoy: The Dog Walker mystery series can also be considered a paranormal themed series, since the protagonist is a dog walker who can communicate telepathically with her charges.
Leslie O’Kane: Allie Babcock is a dog therapist who solves crimes in O’Kane’s series.
Dana Stabenow: Stabenow writes the Kate Shugak mystery series which is set in Alaska.
Maggie Toussaint: A St. Bernard is the canine sidekick in Toussaint’s Cleopatra Jones mystery series.
Peggy Webb: A Basset Hound helps out in the Southern Cousins mystery series by Peggy Webb.
Nina Wright: An Afghan Hound assists the protagonist of Wright’s Whiskey Mattimoe series.
Though this isn’t a comprehensive list of mystery authors who write books with canine sidekicks, it does include a number of the more prominent ones. From these authors, you can generally get an idea if you enjoy mysteries featuring a canine sidekick for the star sleuth.
Taylor writes on a variety of mystery subjects, including cozy mystery themes and a mystery book blog.
Buddy Holly on the Arthur Murray Dance Party 12/29/57
