This is a mystery with the dog(Chet) telling the story for his owner, Bernie. I like reading a dogs perspective so this book was right on for me. The second in the series will be released in Jan. 2010 ( )

What a terrific character! Chet, intrepid partner of Bernie Little P.I., almost-graduate of K-9 school, is the wondrously doggie narrator of this tidy little mystery. The mystery's about a corrupt developer in debt to some Russian loan sharks who've kidnaped his daughter, but who cares? The story here is all Chet--his misadventures, his loves, his impulses, his infallible judgment of character, his wayward attention span, his observvations of human behavior, his live-in-the-moment joie de vivre, and his great big loyal loving heart. This is the Tao of Chet, where every day is the greatest day ever, and every moment in that day can be the greatest moment ever. Why do we love dogs? Chet's why. (This is a "first" novel by Quinn, pseudonym of kids' author ( )

Chet, the canine narrator of Dog On It, may have flunked out of K-9 school but he’s found his niche as partner to Bernie Little, owner of Little Detective Agency. Bernie is divorced and lonely and misses his son Charlie. Chet doesn’t understand the concept of money but takes his cues from Bernie and knows Bernie is worried about their finances. Bernie is hired by a divorced mom to find her missing daughter, Madison, who turns up unharmed with a story that’s obviously made up. A few days later, Madison is missing once more and this time Bernie suspects it’s the real thing. With Chet leading the way, they follow Madison’s trail, which takes them to a group of nefarious Russians determined to stop them from finding Madison.

Told from a dog’s point of view, Dog On It offers a refreshing addition to the mystery genre. Chet perceives most things through body language, odors, and tone of voice. His perceptions are adept and it is amusing how food and other things distract him. Chet’s thinking processes seem much like what this reviewer would attribute to a dog’s thoughts. The voice of Chet is amusing and a bit noir-ish, which suits the book. Fun read. ( )

This was such a good book. I read it in one day. It's told from the dogs point of view, Chet. I'm looking forward to the next one in this series.

I picked up this bit of fluff at the library because it had been recommended on LT. It is the first in a purported series featuring a detective, Bernie, and his partner Chet, who is a dog. This was a first person narrative, with added comments on the side, delivered by the dog. The idea is cute and clever but with such a thin story it can’t really stand up to the 305 pages the author has given us. I took it as my “car” book on our long weekend and it was a good choice. It didn’t demand my attention so much that I ignored my husband, I could get some reading done during commercials as we listened to the last SF Giants game of the season and there were several amusing bits that I could read aloud to hubby, who is an avid dog lover.

My favorite quote: (Chet, the dog, is the narrator)

When I woke up, the sun hung low in the sky, and we were driving down a broad avenue lined with weird buildings, weird lights, weird people, weird everything.
“Vegas,” Bernie said. “Welcome to the ninth circle.”
Ninth circle? A new one on me.

(Obviously, Chet hasn’t read Dante.)

Because I like to see connections between books I read—especially random ones—I should mention that Bernie and Chet live in Arizona and it was "weird" seeing the desert landscape through a dog’s eyes after reading Wood Wife last week. :-)

Bottom line: A light mystery for passing the time on a lazy afternoon if you have nothing better to do and no other book to read. You will get a few laughs as you get a dog’s eye view of the world. Because we all probably need these fluffy books this occasionally I can guardedly recommend it, but only if you are crazy about dogs. ( )

I was completely charmed by the dog, Chet's, observations about humanity. Let's face it, the mystery plot itself is really beside the point, and I thought it was particularly weak at the end. All in all though, I enjoyed Chet very much. ( )

Great book. Loved the characters, including Chet and the plot. I am not a doggy person but I thought Quinn captured the personality and thinking of a dog very well. Bernie is a great character too. Looking forward to more. ( )

Chet and Bernie. Say it with me, now. Chet and Bernie. Get used to saying it, because once you read this book, you'll be saying it a lot to others who haven't read it yet.

Chet's a dog. Bernie's a schlub. They're a team, crime solving magic of a team. In a mystery world dominated by cat cozies, they're very unusual and very much a pair of guys. This makes them a breath of fresh air at the least, and a cold Alberta Clipper to blow the cobwebs full of cat-dander out of the bookstores. Come back to the fold, gentlemen, there's a voice a lot like the one in your head all ready to talk to you, and it's a dog's!

It's wonderful to read something that's got a new slant on an established trope (read: hoary old cliche), and slants it well enough to keep a cynical old sourpuss like me leaning forward in his seat, eager to see what Chet's going to do next, what Bernie's brain's going to wrest from its depths to help the innocent and land on the wicked with all six feet (four Chet's). LT member cameling gets all the credit for shoving this book into my awareness. Bless you, dear madam.

Oh yeah...the schlub gets the girl, too. The right girl. Never mind that she's a vegetarian...who among us is without major character flaws?...she loves Chet.

Fetch! Sit! Read! ( )

Bernie is a private detective with a bit of a cash flow problem. Chet is his partner and his dog; a former K-9 police dog drop-out. Bernie and Chet are hired to find a missing teenage girl who disappears, re-appears and disappears again. Her father insists that she is just a runaway and will be back soon. Bernie doesn't believe him and sets out with Chet to solve the mystery.

The entire book is told from Chet's perspective which makes it hilarious. The fact that Chet is a dog and can't tell Bernie what he knows, makes it suspenseful and fun. I would definitely read more Chet and Bernie mysteries. ( )

Chet is a dog and Bernie is his owner, but they are equals in the Little Detective Agency. While Bernie is the brains and supplies some of the braun, there are times when the high jumping Chet needs to subdue a criminal. Dog On It is narrated by Chet, who is quite the philosopher as well as conversationalist.

Bernie is handling the case of the missing teenager Madison Chambliss. But all is not what it seems...it may not be just a teenage runaway. As Bernie and Chet dig deeper, the options increase: kidnapping for ransom, without ransom, runaway.

Bernie is a real human being. He's divorced and misses his son. He's got money problems and drives a beat up old car. He's got a friend in the police department and is shy around women. So, he's the every-man. Chet is cute, resourceful and intelligent. He hates cats and loves ribs from Max's Memphis Ribs.

Dog On It is an enjoyable read. It's great for a lazy afternoon. Spenser Quinn is apparently working on the next book in the series. ( )

What a fun mystery read! I wasn't sure about the dog narration or exactly how far the author was willing to go as far as the 'dogness' vs. 'humaness'...but it was great. Highly readable, very enjoyable. I love that Chet! ( )

Clever mystery told by Chet, a dog, partner with Bernie, a down and out detective. Dog nature sometimes takes over, but Chet is smart enough to free Bernie from ropes, save him from a cliff. A series, but one is enough. July '09 ( )

I may well pick this book as my favorite book of the year. Chet the Jet, a canine police academy dropout, narrates the book and tells of the adventures he has with his human private detective partner, Bernie. Chet has a great narrative voice. The thing about this book is that I really wish that I had written it myself because it's such great fun. Read it and enjoy! ( )

Chet has a nose—a canine nose for smells and mysteries. Chet belongs to Bernie a down-on-his-luck private eye. They are a team, he and Bernie. Chet is in charge of security (bark when the doorbell rings, when another dog goes across the property—you get the idea). Bernie is hired to look for a missing 15 year-old girl and Chet is ready to help. Did I mention that the story is told from Chet’s point of view? Did you know people can smell of old cheese, salt and pepper, the yellow flowers that grow by the freeway? Dog On It is a hilarious, laugh out loud kind of story. ( )

This is great fun for dog lovers and people who enjoy detective novels. I thoroughly enjoyed it. ( )

Bernie is a private investigator and Chet is his loyal sidekick. Chet is also his partner in solving crimes. Bernie is hired to investigate the disappearance of a teenage girl, Madison. Madison's father is a real estate developer who smells like cat and Chet takes an instant dislike to him. Her father states that she is a runaway, but clues tell the team otherwise.

Two great detectives working as a team! I really liked this book so much. I love Chet as a PI helping his partner, Bernie, solve crimes. The charactors are engaging, the mystery is intriguing, and the look at the world from a dog's point of view is a nice change. I hope there will be more from this fun team... ( )

I liked this book, mainly because it is light and amusing reading. Chet, a dog, is partners with Bernie, a PI. Together they solve a missing child case. The story moves along and is quite fun to read. Chet is not humanized (other than his thoughts) in that he acts like a dog. Bernie needs to interpret Chet's action, not always correctly. Chet is a fully formed character, while Bernie and others are not--maybe that's because describing human characters is out of character for a dog.

Rumor has it that Spencer Quinn is a pseudonym for Peter Abrahams and, if true, this book is quite a departure from his other books. ( )

An enjoyable mystery told from the detective's dog's point of view. Fun read but I'm not sure I'll read the sequel in process. ( )

Good

A PI (Bernie) and his dog (Chet) team up to solve crimes. Chet, the dog, is the narrator. Sounds ridiculous, but surprisingly, it works. Chet is a hoot and manages to maintain his doghood, doing doggy things and generally being confused by human things. He and Bernie are a lovable pair and dog owners will recognize their own dog in Chet. The book is light, funny and totally entertaining. Dog lovers should give it a try! ( )

This was a highly entertaining story of a private eye, his dog, and the case they solve. The characters are very believable--especially Chet, the dog who failed K9 training school. His master, Bernie, is a down and out former cop who has a hard time making ends meet with his private eye work. Together, though, they are unstoppable! Chet's voice is especially right on--how he knows some things before Bernie does, because of his nose! And how frustrating it is for him that he can't share his knowledge with Bernie! And how much he adores Bernie, even though there are many things about humans he just doesn't understand. The plot is not the most original, but there are plenty of twists. The reason to read this, though, is Chet and Bernie, and their relationship. A very fun book! ( )

A quick, enjoyable, light-hearted story that made me laugh out loud in places. This book is a must for anyone who owns a dog since some of the lines are definate inside jokes. This is not great literature but a fun book for a summer read. Telling a story from an animal's point of view is not a new concept but it is always fresh to "hear" what our 4 legged friends think. The mystery in the story is easily solved (Chet, the dog, solves it early on) but it is fun to watch how it works out. I don't know how much a non-dog person would enjoy this book but for those of us with pets, it was a fun way to while an afternoon. ( )

Chet and Bernie are your traditional down-at-heel detective and side-kick team. Chet is the narrator - and his view of things is, to say the least, unusual - because he is a dog. A K9 police training school dropout, sure, but still a dog.

Chet has the hard-boiled nerve, the observational skills, the running internal commentary of a classic detective - sort of a canine Philip Marlowe. But he has his appropriately dog-like qualities as well, including major attention span issues.

The mystery itself was a bit thin and I figured out how it was going to end very early on. And there were some truly outrageous concidental plot twists. However, that did not detract from the story at all, as Chet’s take on things was very funny. I laughed out loud several times. An example would be Chet meeting someone he didn't take a fancy to by saying he smelled of the worst thing ever: cat.

This is great new voice in detective fiction. The fact that it the voice belongs to a dog simply adds to the overall interest. If you love dogs and are convinced they understand almost everything we are talking about, you will love this book. If you are a cat person, well, that might be a different story.

I’m looking forward to future adventures for Chet and Bernie, not least because Chet has foreshadowed revealing the background to his K9 school disaster – and there are those 2-for-1 vouchers at the rib restaurant that have yet to be redeemed. Good boy! ( )

Kearsten says: A charming narrator, Chet the dog adores his owner, former cop turned private investigator, Bernie Little. Hired by a mother to find her missing teenage daughter, the Little Detective Agency (just Chet and Bernie) have only just begun digging when the daughter shows up, just fine. Bernie continues digging, as the girl's story doesn't quite add up, which ends up being a good thing, as the girl soon goes missing a second time.

Bernie is one of those beaten down detectives - he and his wife are divorced, making visits with his young son, Charlie, bracketed by tension, as Bernie's ex-wife is combative as best. He's beset with bills, unsteady clientele and a Porsche that's on its last legs. But it's the unwavering devotion Chet has to Bernie that makes Bernie shine. Seeing this sad man thru his dog's eyes is refreshing and sweet, and Chet is a bit of a super dog - smart, fierce, goofy, and in love with his role as a member of the detective agency. A funny, quirky book - I recommend it and also look forward to the next in the series!

***SPOILER!!!*** (it's a minor spoiler)

For dog lovers: there is a sad scene in an animal shelter, in which a couple of dogs (they are not pivotal to story) that 'disappear'. Chet has a suspicion about what happens to them, but never quite has it confirmed. Chet does survive. ( )

A charming narrator, Chet the dog adores his owner, former cop turned private investigator, Bernie Little. Hired by a mother to find her missing teenage daughter, the Little Detective Agency (just Chet and Bernie) have only just begun digging when the daughter shows up, just fine. Bernie continues digging, as the girl's story doesn't quite add up, which ends up being a good thing, as the girl soon goes missing a second time.

Bernie is one of those beaten down detectives - he and his wife are divorced, making visits with his young son, Charlie, bracketed by tension, as Bernie's ex-wife is combative as best. He's beset with bills, unsteady clientele and a Porsche that's on its last legs. But it's the unwavering devotion Chet has to Bernie that makes Bernie shine. Seeing this sad man thru his dog's eyes is refreshing and sweet, and Chet is a bit of a super dog - smart, fierce, goofy, and in love with his role as a member of the detective agency. A funny, quirky book - I recommend it and also look forward to the next in the series!

* SPOILER!!! For dog lovers: there is a sad scene in an animal shelter, in which a couple of dogs (they are not pivotal to story) that "disappear". Chet has a suspicion about what happens to them, but never quite has it confirmed. Chet does survive. ( )