Author picture

Mary Hiker

Author of Butterfly Boy

17 Works 60 Members 5 Reviews

Series

Works by Mary Hiker

Butterfly Boy (2014) 19 copies
Avery Meets Chevy (2015) 8 copies
Big Catch (2016) 6 copies
Search (2016) 3 copies
Shady (2016) 2 copies
Good Friends (2015) 2 copies
Strange Outfit 2 copies
Rebel (2017) 1 copy
Play Fetch (2015) 1 copy
Loyalty 1 copy
Underwater 1 copy
Smooth 1 copy
Rose 1 copy

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Reviews

Avery Barks works at Goodman's maintenance shop. She's the office manager, but her heart really lies in search and rescue. A year ago she lost her search & rescue dog, Jet. She's been mourning her dog ever since, especially at the holidays. As she investigates thefts of items from her cabin in the small NC mountain town where she lives, she also considers that it's finally time to get a new dog.....

What a cute intro to a cozy mystery series! Avery Meets Chevy is the beginning of the Avery Barks series. There are 10 books so far. Each is a short, quick read at under 100 pages. I can tell Chevy, the lovable golden retriever, is going to be a romping, cute fun part of this series.

I enjoy cozy mysteries because they give me a happy break from the heavier fiction I read. After an intense thriller or really creepy horror novel, I love to read something light, something fun....cute animals, a simple mystery....something non-threatening....just to clear my brain. I can tell this series is going to be a perfect palate cleanser after my next several intense reads. :) I can't wait to see what antics Avery and Chevy get into!

The mystery is very light in this intro story....but that's totally ok. The story was more about character introduction and setting the scene for the cozy series. The mystery was a little side jaunt. Cute ending! :) I had to suspend a bit of reality when it came to a pair of shoes....but it only caused a momentary feeling of disbelief. Then Chevy bounded through my mind....and I forgot all about it. :)

Loved this story. It gave me a happy bit of reading...nice break in my day! I already have book 1 of the Avery Barks series queued up on my Kindle. Ready to go!

Mary Hiker writes other cozy mysteries as well, including the Shady Springs Dog Mysteries and the Miss Fortune series.

I'm definitely going to be reading more books by this author. I'm a sucker for cute dog stories and cozy mysteries! :)

**I voluntarily read this short story after receiving a free copy from the author. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.**
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JuliW | 1 other review | Nov 22, 2020 |
I love reading cozy mysteries set in Western NC where I live. :) Add in a cute dog plus an interesting mystery plot and I'm hooked! I think I have found a new favorite cozy series!

Butterfly Boy is the first book in the Avery Barks series. There are 10 books and a couple short stories in this series so far. Avery is a dog trainer and a search & rescue volunteer. Her best buddy is Chevy, her golden retriever. In this first mystery, Avery & Chevy come across a dead body on her neighbor's property. That's bad enough....but add in the fact the dead man got her fired from her job and has her initials written on his forehead in sharpie marker..... Avery might just be in hot water with local law enforcement!

I love Chevy's antics. He would rather chase butterflies and love everyone he sees rather than be trained as a SAR dog. Avery is a likable main character. She's an outdoor enthusiast and dog lover. She definitely uses her wits to get out of tough situations!

All in all, a cute, enjoyable cozy mystery! Butterfly Boy is a quick read at 69 pages, but that doesn't mean the story is rushed or simple. There's a lot packed into those 69 pages! The mystery isn't complex, but still enjoyable. I like the background theme of dog training and SAR. And I really love the Western NC setting! My favorite side character in this story has to be Charlie Ham -- the old man who is called Old Man Crash because he runs his truck into everything. Fences, parked cars....doesn't matter. Charlie drives into them. :) Made me smile.

Mary Hiker also writes the Shady Springs Mysteries and Miss Fortune series. I will definitely be reading more by this author! This first book was a fun, entertaining read! Plus what a cute cover! It's hard not to love a golden....even when he's only a character in a book! :)
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JuliW | 1 other review | Nov 22, 2020 |
pet, law-enforcement, amateur-sleuth, women-sleuths, murder-investigation, short

Excellent canine short! Rural issues make trouble for a search and rescue dog trainer whose own pet is a very carefree and happy fellow. They find a body and she has cause to worry that she will be the primary suspect. There's lots more, and some scary suspense. Great quick read!
 
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jetangen4571 | 1 other review | Jun 7, 2017 |
This is somewhat enjoyable story. Short and sweet, but not overly so. It's pretty good if you have a dog.
 
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Chrisethier | 1 other review | Dec 5, 2016 |

Statistics

Works
17
Members
60
Popularity
#277,520
Rating
3.8
Reviews
5
ISBNs
3

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