Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an advance reader’s copy of The Spotted Dog in exchange for an honest review.
The Spotted Dog by Kerry Greenwood
Genre: Cozy mystery
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Publication date: September 10, 2019
Summary:
“Betrayal is a bitter pill to swallow…
“Rising at four o’clock every morning isn’t Corinna Chapman’s favorite part of running her Australian bakery, Earthly Delights, and the glowing light of dawn starts to feel even harsher when a seemingly disturbed man collapses in her shop. When the man, a military veteran, comes around and reveals that his beloved ex-service dog is missing, Corinna and her longtime companion, Daniel, feel compelled to help. It soon becomes clear, though, that they have gotten involved in something much bigger and more complicated than they had bargained for… especially when threatening notes begin to appear in Corinna’s apartment.
“Along with searching for the kidnapped dog and trying to stay out of range of the gang of drug runners who are probably responsible for his disappearance, Corinna has to make sure the delicious breads, muffins, and treats that she has become known for are still fresh and ready for her eager customers. Can she take the heat?” (from the Goodreads blurb)
My thoughts:
I haven’t read any of Greenwood’s Corinna Chapman mysteries before, but this one can be read as a standalone. I did have momentary problems with learning all the various quirky characters living in her apartment building, Insula; there were a lot of names thrown at me. But it didn’t take long to figure out the who’s who of Insula.
There are many strong points.
Corinna’s voice
She’s the queen of the deadpan understatement. Her tone is wry, with a hint of snark coupled with genuine affection for others. Well, most other characters! This works well, as many of the other characters are over-the-top, with high levels of passion for their interests and equally high levels of quirkiness. They are quirky with a capital Q.
But even with the deadpan humor, Corinna throws in archaic terms and references to ancient history. Only a certain type of person can use these words with such flare, and Corinna’s that type. I enjoyed meeting her.
The other characters
If you like quirky characters, this book is for you. There’s Jason, ex-addict and Corinna’s faithful midshipman/apprentice. Dion Monk, a retired classics professor, and Mrs. Dawson, a retired society hostess, who might be romantically involved. A group of young actors rehearsing The Tempest in their apartment. Meroe, Insula’s resident benign “witch.” Goss and Kylie, the almost interchangeable cafe helpers addicted to their phones. Uncle Solly, Daniel’s “uncle” who might be a local rep for Mossad if only it existed.
And then there’s Philomena. Injured in a mysterious accident, she’s confined to a wheelchair and cannot speak though she’s plainly trying to tell others her story. Her struggle is one of the mysteries in this novel.
And if you’re a cat lover, there’s plenty of those chasing mice and purring and demanding the full attention of their slave–er, human.
The food.
Greenwood goes overboard with the food descriptions. I did tire of this after a while.
But Corinna’s life revolves around baking, so it makes sense that she’s always thinking or fixing or eating food. Some of the descriptions are enough to cause weight gain just by reading them. A word to the wise: don’t read The Spotted Dog on an empty stomach. You may find yourself looking in your cabinets, hoping for Corinna’s muffins and breads to magically appear, and be sorely disappointed.
I started this book a few days ago and have baked a batch of muffins and a loaf of bread, and I’m making homemade pizza dough later today. No, I’m not sharing. But if you need some recipes, Greenwood supplies a few in the back.
There are weaker points.
There are multiple discrete mysteries in the story, and some are more interesting than others. Alasdair and his faithful service dog, Geordie, is interesting, though Alasdair needs more development than a Scottish accent. The dive into a Vatican conspiracy/coverup theory about a lost gospel? Not so interesting.
Add to this a mysterious ransomware attack on a local cafe’s computer system, two burglaries, and Philomena’s mysterious assault, and it’s hard to keep everything straight. Moreover, for most of the book, the various crimes don’t appear connected. Even after Corinna links them together, the connections seem tenuous.
I’m also not keen on the occasional jumps to Philomena’s point of view. After spending several chapters in Corinna’s head, the leap to a minor character’s voice is disconcerting. While her subplot should be compelling, the violence in her tale feels out of place with the other comedic, often over-the-top story pieces.
There are many sweeping generalizations made about various ethnic groups. Jews. Greeks. Italians. Russians. Maori. I’m uncomfortable with these. They’re cliched and sometimes offensive, even when they’re intended to be humorous.
Overall, though, The Spotted Dog is a good story. It’s a fun, enjoyable read, perfect if you want to while away a summer afternoon.
Thanks again to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for a copy of The Spotted Dog in exchange for an honest review.