Review: “Dog on It: A Chet and Bernie Mystery,” by Spencer Quinn

Chet (the Jet) is a mongrel dog who failed K-9 School because a cat ran across his path at a critical moment. Despite that, he is a dedicated PI and works with Bernie Little, owner of the Little Detective Agency.

Chet and Bernie are called to investigate the disappearance of a teenage girl, Madison. She returns, but then disappears again. This time, she doesn’t come back.

Bernie and Chet look into the business dealings of her divorced developer father, leading them into biker bars and out into the desert. The dad says she’s a runaway, the mom is in tears and Bernie and Chet suspect she’s been kidnapped. But there’s no ransom note.

Then Chet is dognapped by some nasty Russians who try to turn him into a fighting dog. But Chet will have none of it and escapes. But before he does, he sees Madison. He wanders through the desert until he runs into a biker party; where they give him food and beer, then turn him into an animal shelter. He is rescued only a moment before he is to be euthanized by Suzie Sanchez, a reporter than had worked with Bernie and recognizes Chet.

Reunited, Chet and Bernie return to the case, with Chet trying vainly to get Bernie to understand what he’s barking about. But, bit by bit, they come closer to finding Madison, even though her father took them off the case.

Although Chet may not be able to keep an idea in his head for long, (what? Is that bacon?), he is true blue, dependable and would take a bullet for Bernie. With well fleshed out characters and an endearing canine point of view, this is a fast-paced, well-written story, and a rollicking good read.