Deadly Dog Days (Dog Days Mystery, #1)

by Jamie M Blair

"New to the historic town of Metamora, Indiana, Cameron Cripps-Hayman is looking to make friends with her neighbors. What she isn't looking for is one of their bodies floating in the canal. When she and her estranged husband, the town sheriff, are both suspected of murder, Cameron takes crime solving into her own hands, teaming up with her eccentric group of volunteers who dub themselves The Metamora Action Agency"--Page 4 of cover.

• ISBN10: 1410498581
• ISBN13: 9781410498588
• Publish Date: 17 May 2017 (first published 8 November 2016)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 31 March 2023
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Wheeler Publishing Large Print
• Edition: Large type / large print edition
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 372
• Language: English

Reviews

[layawaydragon]

The Good
+Yay, animals!
+Liked Cameron and loved her ending
+Strong supporting cast
+Didn’t guess the killer
+Fun without being outlandishly zany

The Bad & The Other
-Status quo. No social issues or diversity included.

Deadly Dog Days is a fun contemporary cozy mystery that I enjoyed. Cameron is a transplant to this small town after a whirlwind romance and marriage to the local sheriff. When the book starts though, they’re already estranged and been he’s out of the house for months.

It doesn’t come right out and say why they split at first, and there’s a tug and pull relationship. What it isn’t: torrid. What it is: practical issues that they must work on. I loved it. It’s chuckle-worthy grounded escapism.

Cameron’s a typical woman trying to figure her life, her joy, her purpose out and stressing about weight and looks. The latter wasn’t much fun to read, but she’s not dieting and pushes back on those that shame her. The insecurities and jealousy was much the same. It’s not pretty but I viscerally understand her internal dialogue.

I can’t say much else without spoiling, but the mystery was great. I didn’t guess the killer, fell for reasonable red herrings, and enjoyed the ride. The ending is perfect and I’m so proud of Cameron!



3.5 Stars because I enjoyed it but it's not OMFGAMAZEBALLS. Pretty standard for the genre so if this is what you're looking for, definitely pick it up.