What’s better than a suspense novel? How about a suspense novel with a dog? I’ve run across a lot of new/recently published/soon-to-be published suspense/thriller/mystery novels that feature a dog in a starring role. Whether they search for cadavers, rescue people, or support the humans in their lives, these dog characters have a life of their own.

I haven’t read all of these novels, but I’ve read several of them. I tried to pick ones that were published in 2019/2020 and point you to reviews, series information pages, or author websites. If I missed any that should’ve been on the list, let me know in the comments. I’ll add them!

1. Deception Cove by Owen Laukkanen.

Thriller. This is first in Neah Bay series.

Hands down, this was one of my favorite reads of 2019. Seriously, I gave Deception Cove a five-star review and talked about it to pretty much anyone who’d stand still. Lucy, a rescued pit bull, supports her owner Jess, who suffers from PTSD from Afghanistan. But she’s also the dog that Mason, a former prisoner, trained during his time in prison. When a ruthless criminal gang steals Lucy, Mason and Jess must team up to rescue the dog who rescued them. Lucy won my heart, and I think she’ll win yours, too. Book 2 in the series, Lone Jack Trail, comes out in August 2020 and it sounds just as thrilling.

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2. Her Last Whisper by Jennifer Chase

Police procedural/thriller. Detective and Army vet Katie Scott suffers crippling PTSD, but her partner/service dog Cisco helps her cope and investigate cold cases in Pine Valley. Though the dog apparently doesn’t play a huge role in the books, he’s still there. Her Last Whisper had a 4.4 stars average rating on Amazon, as did the previous novel, Little Girls Sleeping.

Reviewers raved about both books. Book blogger Shalini (of Shalini’s Books & Reviews) wrote in her review of Her Last Whisper was “Brilliant! Absolutely freaking brilliant!”

The latest book in the series is due out on March 24, 2020. From the Goodreads blurb of Flowers on Her Grave, it sounds like a fascinating story.

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3. San Diego Dead by Mark Nolan

Action/thriller. This is book four in the Jake Wolfe series. It was released in August of 2019. I featured an excerpt from San Diego Dead on the blog tour not long ago. Marine turned lawyer Jake Wolfe is a bit of a wildcard. But ex-military dog Cody is smart, brave, and apparently equal to any danger he and Jake encounter.

On the DampPebbles website, guest reviewer Ryan wrote, “Jake Wolfe is an all-action hero with a side kick in Cody worthy of being up there with Robin (Batman), Luigi (Mario) and the Brain (Pinky)!  Jake and Cody’s relationship is never in question and the theme of loyalty runs throughout the book in multiple story lines.  Whether Jake is after a friend, comforter, weapon or tracker then Cody is his answer.” And after you’ve read all four books in the series, don’t worry: Mark Nolan is busy writing book 5!

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4. Jazz Ramsey series by Kylie Logan

Cozy murder mysteries I’ve adored both books in the Jazz Ramsey series. Jazz is a trainer for cadaver dogs, and naturally, that comes with certain dangers. Like, say, finding dead bodies when you aren’t looking for them (training in an urban abandoned building). And in places they aren’t supposed to be (attic of a Catholic girls’ school). The books are warm but realistic, and the mysteries deftly plotted. Jazz is a classic amateur sleuth, but she’s not Miss Marple! You can read my review of the newly released The Secrets of Bones (May 5, 2020) and my review for 2019’s The Scent of Murder.

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5. The Timber Creek K-9 series by Margaret Mizushima

Police Procedurals

The Timber Creek K-9 series follows Officer Mattie Cobb and her K-9 partner Robo as they search, rescue, and investigate disappearances and deaths in the Colorado Rockies. I was approved to read Tracking Game (released in November 2019). But I had over-committed myself to Netgalley book titles and couldn’t finish this one. From what I read, there was a terrific setting, lots of suspense, and Mattie and Robo are a winning team!

The latest novel in the series, Hanging Falls, will be released in September 2020. Check out the blurb on Margaret  Mizushima’s website:

“Murder stalks the rugged Colorado high country—and sends Mattie Cobb on a quest to uncover the darkest secrets from her past in the sixth gripping installment of Margaret Mizushima’s Timber Creek K-9 mysteries.

A deluge has flooded the high ground near Hanging Falls—but heavy rains aren’t the only menace descending on Timber Creek. While on a scouting mission to pinpoint trail damage, officer Mattie Cobb and her K-9 partner Robo stumble upon a body floating at the edge of a lake. Robo catches human scent, which leads to an enigmatic forest-dweller who quickly becomes suspect number one.

With help from veterinarian Cole Walker, Mattie identifies the victim, and discovers an odd religious cult whose dress and manners harken back to the 19th century. As the list of suspects grows, an unexpected visit from members of Mattie’s long-lost family sheds new light on her childhood as they help Mattie piece together details of the fateful night when she was abducted at age two.

The tangled threads of the investigation and family dynamics begin to intertwine—but darkness threatens to claim a new victim before Mattie and Robo can track down the killers.”

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6. Mace Reid: K-9 mystery series by Jeffrey B. Burton

Mystery/Thriller

The Finders publication date: June 2020

From MacMillian Books’s website page on The Finders: “Jeffrey B. Burton’s The Finders marks the beginning of a fast-paced new mystery series featuring a heroic golden retriever cadaver dog named Vira and her handler, Mason Reid.”

In Sandy’s review of The Finders, she wrote, “This is a quick, enjoyable book. There’s a bit of a slump in the middle but plenty of info on the science behind cadaver dogs & their training makes for an interesting read. Some creepy scenes & a steady rise in tension lead to an action packed finale. (…)

But the real stars are the puppers. (…) Vira is always two steps ahead of everyone else. Now if she could just get those dense humans to pay attention! It’s a solid start to the series & I look forward to the gang’s next adventure.”

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7& 8. The K-Team and the Andy Carpenter series, by David Rosenfelt

About The K-Team: “In David Rosenfelt’s newest series – a spinoff of the much beloved Andy Carpenter mysteries – Andy’s wife forms an investigative team with a former detective and his German shepard partner.”

Goodreads page for the Andy Carpenter series: “Attorney Andy Carpenter is an unabashed animal lover, and he has a reputation for saving both dogs and humans from Death Row. With the help of his beloved golden retriever Tara, Andy solves cases and wins courtroom battles in this acclaimed series of legal thrillers.”

This series has 21 (and counting!) books. Number 20, Dachshund Through the Snow has the cutest holiday-themed dog cover on this list. (Although one of the previous books in the series, Deck the Hounds is darned cute, too!) Number 21, Muzzled, is due for publication in July 2020.

I have to hand it to author David Rosenfelt; he probably owns the most dogs of any of the authors on this list: twenty-seven. Go read his author bio, as it’s simultaneously funny and heart-warming. And you can see a photo of some of those twenty-seven dogs!

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9. The Dog Who Knew Too Much by Krista Davis

Cozy (includes recipes!)Publication Date: November 2019 “When a famous pooch comes to Wagtail for some downtime, inn owner Holly Miller learns that murder never rests in this all-new Paws & Claws mystery in the New York Times bestselling series.

America’s favorite dog comes to pet-friendly Wagtail for some rest and relaxation, but Holly quickly discovers that this perfect pup is a total scamp who takes every opportunity to run off and misbehave. During an outdoor treasure-hunting game, the star dog and Trixie, Holly’s beloved Jack Russell terrier, stumble across a dead body.

Holly has more than murder to worry about, though, when a man shows up after reading an article featuring Trixie in a magazine and claims that he is the dog’s rightful owner. Holly will need to prove that she is her pup’s only parent and catch a killer to restore peace to her pet-loving happy place.” (from the blurb)

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Oddly enough, there are multiple books with this title. (Or maybe not so odd, considering that the title is a spin on a classic film.)

One is from Spenser Quinn’s Chet and Bernie series, which is told from the point of view of the dog.

The other is from Carol Lea Benjamin’s Rachel Alexander and Dash series, and the dog is more of a companion than a detective partner.

There’s a third, too, but I don’t know how a dog fits into the story: Police thriller The Dog Who Knew Too Much by Stacy Danielle Stephens. 

10. Changing of the Guard Dog by Lane Stone

From the Goodreads blurb of Changing of the Guard Dog: “At Buckingham Pet Palace doggy daycare, the (canine) customer is always king—but when a killer strikes, owner Sue Patrick is the queen of crime-solving . . .

An early morning beach jog takes a somber turn when Sue Patrick and Lewes, Delaware’s Chief of Police, John Turner, encounter a gentleman dressed in a tux—and indisputably dead. While John runs to alert police, Sue witnesses an interloper rummaging through the victim’s pockets, right before he’s shot by a second stranger who attacks Sue. Two trusty doggy friends come to her aid, but the shooter escapes.

The well-dressed corpse was Danish conductor Georg Nielsen, darling of the classical music world. Lewes is hosting the world debut of Georg’s new sonata, and the show must go on . . . but there’s major discord amongst the musicians. Lady Anthea, Sue’s aristocratic business partner, joins her in trying to bring the curtain down on a killer. But they’ll need four-legged help to stop a maestro murderer who seems to have orchestrated the perfect crime . . .”

11. Dogs Don’t Lie by Lisa Shay

Publication Date: September 2019

from the blurb: “On call at Crater Emergency Animal Hospital, I, Doctor Kallie Collins, receive a curious request from the sheriff’s department. I’m to meet with a detective at a small ranch outside of town.

You see, there’s this dog with a bone he’s not willing to part with. On scene, the dog tells me the bone is human. Actually, he shows me the location of the body, complete with a human skull, through an animal-communication technique I learned a couple years ago. Now I have to explain how this works to the detective, convincing him I’m not the murderer.

Who knew a simple farm visit would put me in the middle of a murder investigation? Well, I did kinda jump into this mess. I had to. I know what happened. The two four-legged witnesses to the murder told me. And I’m the only one listening.”

In a strange twist of circumstances, during the research for this post, I found another mystery titled Dogs Don’t Lie:

12. Dogs Don’t Lie by Clea Simon (Pru Marlowe #1)

Pet Noir/Cozy/Paranormal

Publication Date: April 2010

This is the first in Clea Simon’s “pet noir” series about Pru Marlowe, an animal psychic. (“Pet noir” is a subgenre? Who knew?) This book is a little older than the rest on this list, as it was published in 2010. Still, having two books with the same title, both with dogs as characters, seemed fortuitous, so I included it! 

From the blurb:“Pru Marlowe isn’t your ordinary animal psychic. A tough girl on the run from her own gift, Pru left the big city to return to her picturesque Berkshires hometown looking for a little peace. Too bad   that her training as an animal behaviorist got her mixed up with Lily, a rescue dog, and Charles, her person. Now Charles is dead, and Lily looks good for it. After all, Lily is a pitbull, a fighting-ring   dropout, and way too traumatized to give Pru a clear picture of what she has witnessed. But Pru knows something about bad girls trying to clean up, and, with a sense of justice strong enough to overcome her dislike of human society, she takes the case. 

Listening to the animals, Pru picks up clues–and learns there are secrets in the pretty little town that make murder look simple. Unable to tell anybody about her psychic abilities, uncertain at times about her own sanity, Pru comes to realize that if she clears Lily, she’ll likely become the prime suspect–or the next victim. While the only creature she can totally trust is her crotchety tabby Wallis, Pru’s got to uncover the real killer–and find a way to live with her gift–before the real beasts in the town savage her and those she has come to love.”

If you’re a dog lover, what’s your favorite mystery series that includes dogs in a prominent role? Have you read any of these books/series? Tell me about them!