Those Dogs Sure Did Walk a Lot

TITLE: The Dogwalkers' Detective Agency

AUTHOR: Michael Hogan

PUBLISHER: Pegasus Crime

PUBLISHING DATE: June 2, 2026

PAGES: 480   

SOURCE: Library

FROM GOODREADS: They've got a lot of leads...but can they collar a killer? 

When Charlie Boardman and his beloved Staffy, Ruby, stumble across a corpse in the woods, the sleepy coastal town of Framstone is rocked by the discovery that the local pub landlord has been murdered. 

Charlie and his fellow dogwalkers take it upon themselves to try and sniff out any clues that might help the local police with their investigation. 

But what begins as idle speculation and gossip quickly becomes something more sinister, when Charlie starts receiving anonymous threats warning him off the case. 

Then, a second body washes up on the beach… 

Can Charlie hunt down a killer, before he becomes the next victim?

MY THOUGHTS: I grabbed this book last month when I was perusing the "New Release" shelf at my local library.  I'm sure it is a shock to no one why I gravitated towards it. I have to admit it wasn't a perfect read but for the author's debut, it definitely was a solid one. 

Charlie has moved back to his hometown of Framstone to take care of his ailing mother.  He is a self-employed graphic designer who spends a lot of time walking his precious Staffy Ruby and hanging out with a group of dogwalkers in town.  One day when walking a favorite path in the woods, Charlie and Ruby stumble across the body of an ex-copper in town.  Although a bit shook up, he and his friends decide to start looking into the death on their own, and their activities only intensify when Charlie discovers another body on the beach.  On top of that, Charlie starts receiving threats against his mother and Ruby. He tries to back off the investigation but finds he misses his cronies too much and he is tired of living in fear. Can Charlie and the gang solve the crime when the police seem to be spinning their wheels?  And more importantly, can Charlie keep his mom and Ruby (let's be honest, that is who I am worried about) safe in the process?

I loved Charlie, his group of colorful friends, and all of their pets.  Charlie also renews a friendship with an old high school crush, who happens to be a very married Detective now, which aids in the sharing of information as the plot thickens.  This book also has a lot of twists and turns, including the one at the very end I really didn't see coming.

My only real complaint is the length of the book.  Just shy of 500 pages, it seems a bit lengthy for a mystery.  However, the chapters are extremely short, and the author somehow manages to come up with a title for each one.  This kept me interested and helped the pages turn quite quickly. I also was a bit worried about Ruby about 45% into the book.  Let's say she managed to come away unharmed, and she and the other dogs ended up helping take down the culprit, but it was a bit dicey for a while. 

I'm not sure if this is the beginning of a series or if it's a standalone.  I would definitely pick up another book in this world and would love visiting with the old gang and their lovable pooches again.  If you like small-town vibe mysteries, and don't mind a lengthy read, this one might be for you.  Oh, and don't forget dogs!

MY RATING: 4 PAWS