Fun mysteries featuring dogs who help sniff out clues
I read across all genres, but when I’m looking for a comfort book (one to wash away a bad day or to lighten the load after a heavier book), I usually turn to mysteries. I’m not entirely sure why, but it may have something to do with the fact that most have a very satisfactory ending that doesn’t leave you hanging.
The following books have an extra layer of comfort with the addition to a furry helper. These mystery series for dog lovers are fun to read and great choices for any mystery lover.
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Mystery Series for Dog Lovers
Most of the books on this list fit in the category of cozy mysteries.
What is a cozy mystery? It’s a mystery where the violence takes place off the pages and the detective is typically an amateur. The setting is usually a small town with fun & quirky characters. There is usually little profanity. They’re comfort reads for many people (myself included).
Hopefully you’ll find a fun dog mystery series in the list to try.
Paws and Claws Mystery Series by Krista Davis
The Paws and Claws Mysteries take place in a fun little town called Wagtail, Virginia, a vacation destination where every place is dog-friendly. The protagonist is Holly and she and her dog, Trixie, help run the Sugar Maple Inn with her grandmother.
In the first book of the series, Murder, She Barked, you’ll learn how Holly finds Trixie and moves to Wagtail. In subsequent books, you’ll find that Trixie (and Holly) have a tendency to find bodies and also solve murders.
These are fun books for anyone who loves cozies, dogs, and charming settings. FIND ALL THE BOOKS IN THE SERIES HERE.
Purchase the first book in the series Murder, She Barked, here.
Pampered Pets Series by Sparkle Abbey
The Pampered Pets series is written by two friends and writing partners who combined their pet names to form their pseudonym. They’ve come up with a fun cozy series that takes place in Laguna Beach.
Caro Lamont (who in later books is joined by her cousin, Mel) is a pet therapist who makes house calls to all her posh clients. After a meeting, her client is found murdered. Caro suddenly needs to clear her name and find a murderer.
This series is fun and full of laughs as Caro, her pets, and her client’s pets find themselves in many predicaments. The quirky side characters were delightful and I hope to learn more about them in later books. FIND ALL THE BOOKS IN THE SERIES HERE.
Purchase the first book in the series, Desperate Housedogs, here.
Southern Cousins Mysteries by Peggy Webb
Join Elvis the basset hound and his human Callie as they solve mysteries in Tupelo, Mississippi. Elvis, who believes he is the reincarnation of Elvis Presley, often takes the lead when there’s a mystery to solve.
In this first book, Elvis and Callie even end up in Vegas in their search for a murderer.
This series is funny and quirky. Elvis is an absolute hoot and in some chapters, you’ll get the story from his point of view. Try this series if you love funny cozies. FIND ALL THE BOOKS IN THE SERIES HERE.
Purchase the first book in the series, Elvis and the Dearly Departed, here.
Helping Hands Mysteries by Annelise Ryan
In the first book in the series, Needled to Death, you’ll meet Hildy Schneider, a social worker at the hospital in Sorenson, Wisconsin, who also runs grief therapy sessions. One day, a woman comes to grief therapy convinced that her son was murdered. Hildy and her Golden Retriever jump in to help.
This is a newer series, so there are only two books so far, but I do hope it continues. I love reading about Hildy, her therapy dog, and her work alongside the police. FIND ALL THE BOOKS IN THE SERIES HERE.
Purchase the first book in the series, Needled to Death, here.
Melanie Travis Mystery Series by Laurien Berenson
Dive into the world of dog shows with this fun cozy series by Laurien Berenson. (And with 26 books in the series, this is a great choice if you’re looking for something to binge read!)
In the first book of the series, A Pedigree to Die For, Melanie Travis finds herself thrown into the world of championship dogs and solving mysteries when her aunt enlists her help to find her uncle’s murderer and the prize poodle that went missing the same night.
This series is a fun choice for cozy lovers and you don’t have to love dog books to enjoy the dog show setting. FIND ALL THE BOOKS IN THE SERIES HERE.
Purchase the first book in the series, A Pedigree to Die For, here.
Andy Carpenter Series by David Rosenfelt
The Andy Carpenter series is not a cozy mystery series, instead I would classify it as a legal thriller. This series follows Carpenter, a defense attorney with an irreverent sense of humor who’d rather hang out with his golden retriever, Tara, than anyone else.
Unlike some of the previous series mentioned, Tara doesn’t play as big of a part in solving the mystery, but she does play a big part in Andy’s life and happiness.
This series is great for fans of Sue Grafton and courtroom dramas. It’s definitely one I could binge read! FIND ALL THE BOOKS IN THE SERIES HERE.
Purchase the first book in the series, Open and Shut, here.
Paw Enforcement Mystery Series by Diane Kelly
A dog mystery series list is just not complete without a series about a K-9 officer. And, the Paw Enforcement series absolutely fits that bill. In this nine book series, you’ll meet Fort Worth, Texas police officer Megan Luz and her K-9 partner Brigit, who’s definitely got a mind of her own.
In the first book of the series, Megan meets Brigit and the two get to know each other, all while solving a murder. On a routine patrol, a bomb goes off in a mall food court. Can they find the killer before they strike again?
This is a fun series for people who love both police procedurals and cozy mysteries. It’s a great combination of the two. Brigit is a hoot and dog lovers will greatly enjoy reading about her. FIND ALL THE BOOKS IN THE SERIES HERE.
Purchase the first book in the series, Paw Enforcement, here.
Did I miss any of your favorite mystery series for dog lovers? Let me know what else I should check out!
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Bob Giddings says
Spencer Quinn’s Chet and Bernie is the tops. Susan Conant also wrote a good canine series.