A great book by a fantastic author. The writing is excellent and the mystery keeps you turning the pages. Characters are well developed. Highly recommend.

Super cute cozy mystery will have readers patiently waiting for the next in the series.

Canal Days Calamity
Jamie M. Blair

Really liked this cozy mystery. The cover was very noticable. The big cast of characters were well written and fun.. A great plot that has red herrings galore. Dog lovers will love the dog treats.
This time Cam's family is involved and her step daughter learns an important life lesson. I really liked the action sequence towards the end. That is why I gave this cozy a 5 stars. It went a notch above the rest. Very well written and exciting.
Guess I will have to get the first book and watch for the third.

Dog treat receipe included. I'm going to try it.

I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So glad I did.

There's a lot going on around as Cam, her sister, and mother get ready for Canal Days. If not the handyman, then who? The characters are on the quirky side and there are surprises along the way. The Metamora Action Agency has a lot of confidence but not so much experience with some humorous effects. Cam and her sister have a lot invested in Canal Days with the gourmet dog food store.

This is the second in the Dog Days Mystery series. It can be read as a stand alone - I haven't read the first one - but it may be easier to follow the characters and relationships (like Cam's with her ex who she's dating) if you've read the first one. Personalities and relationships make the story.

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in the hopes that I would post an honest review as part of this blog tour. This has not affected the content of my review in any way.

I really liked this cozy mystery. The characters were likable, but not perfect, and the relationships felt very real. I like the interactions between Cam and her family. They had problems, but they worked through them. The mystery was interesting, and it was tied together nicely. I would definitely recommend this to any cozy mystery fan and plan to read more in this series.

All the best elements for a cozy mystery series are in this, the second book of the Dog Days series. It's time for the Canal Days and Cameron and her sister are looking forward to the opening of her sister's store specializing in doggie treats, etc. But, before that can happen a body turns up behind the store and a friend is arrested for the murder. Of course he didn't do it, the police are not convinced otherwise and Cameron and the gang mobilize to investigate and find the real murderer. The plotting is solid and the characters are great fun, especially the new addition to the dogs...a duck! Humor, a bit of romance, complicated family relationships, this series has it all.

This is the second book in the Dog Days Mystery Series. I do recommend the first book however this book can be read as a stand alone. I enjoy this charming series because each book is non stop action. The characters are delightful and add to the story. The location is a gourmet dog food shop where our protagonist works with her sister. As they stumble across another murder they join forces as only sisters can to find the suspect.
This is well written with a fast pace and humor throughout. It is a enjoyable cozy read and I highly recommend the entire series. I look forward to the next book.

Pretty much as soon as the story opens, we find Cam and her sister Monica finding a dead body. Just when Cam is right in the middle of planning Metamora's Canal Days and her sister is busy trying to get her dog treats store ready to open, this happens. Cam's husband Ben knows that he can't count on Cam to stay out of the investigation because as it turns out, this is a murder. Add to the mix that Cam and Monica's mom is there in town for a visit and you get all kinds of crazy.

Cam proves herself to be a very good stepmom to Ben's daughter. I liked her little town activities and mystery solving seniors team--two actual seniors and two high school seniors. They all seemed to get along real well. Old Dan was one of my fave characters. He was definitely someone that I would want to know if I lived there. I got a kick out of Cam having so many different dogs and how she'd constantly change the twin dogs's names throughout the story.

I've visited Metamora before so it was very easy to picture small town life here and the canal itself. This was a fairly quick read but a good mystery with enough twists and suspects that I didn't guess what was going on until the author chose to reveal it. The ending and take down were pretty exciting so now I'd like to go back and read the first book and see what happened in that one. This book stood alone very well though. The author explained briefly what went down in the first book so I was easily able to know who was who.

I hope the series continues because I'd like to see Monica's store continue to do well, find out whether their mom moves to Metamora to be near the guy she just met and of course to see if Ben and Cam can make a better go of their marriage which exists but he doesn't live with Cam and his daughter.

Canal Days Calamity by Jamie M Blair is the second book in the Dog Days Mystery series. Cam is rushing to finish the planning for Canal Days when she finds a local man dead behind her sister's shop. When the town handyman is arrested, Cam knows she must jump into the investigation and find the real murderer. I read the first book in this series. While it is helpful, it is not necessary. The mix of characters in this book is a definite plus. I enjoyed this book, and the mystery kept me guessing a bit until the end. The only downside for me was Cam's constant use of "good gravy". It is not enough to keep me from reading book number three though.

Cam's small town is gearing up for its annual Canal Days (which is something of a Halloween festival so I was glad to find that out) when she finds another dead body. This time around, one of Cam's friends is arrested and she is fearful her father-in-law may have had something to do with it.

It was fun to visit Cam and the other town residents again. In addition, Cam's mother is visiting Cameron and her sister Monica, which brings about a whole new dynamic. Also, some new relationships are forming and the reader gets to see things progress between Cam and her estranged husband, Ben. I love that the author doesn't fall back on the commonly used love-triangle trope, and its refreshing to see things play out as they might in the "real world."

I really wasn't able to figure out the mystery and I have to admit Stormi might have been more on top of it than I was. I love how Cam is always helping stray animals and she even has a new duck follower this time around. "Canal Days Calamity" is a strong followup to "Deadly Dog Days" and I'm curious to see what trouble Cam and her crew find next.

Canal Days Calamity by Jamie M. Blair is the second book in A Dog Days Mystery series. Cameron Cripps-Hayman is organizing Canal Days with Roy, Johnna, Anna and Logan (Metamora Action Agency) as well as helping her sister, Monica get ready for the opening of Dog Diggity. While painting polka dots on the outside of the building, Cameron discovers a man dead on the bench behind Dog Diggity. The victim, Butch Landow, was shot in the head and unhappy with people wanting his farm for a casino. Andy (Monica’s handyman) gets arrested for the crime and Cameron knows that the police have the wrong man. Despite Ben’s warning not to meddle, Cameron assembles the Metamora Action Agency to uncover the killer and get Andy out of jail.

I wanted to give A Dog Days Mystery series a second chance. I quickly discovered that Canal Days Calamity is not my type of book (I am not into the humorous, wacky, over-the-top cozy mysteries). Canal Days Calamity is not a standalone story. You need to read Deadly Dog Days prior to Canal Days Calamity (details a reader needs are missing from this story). The murder occurs in the first chapter which leads to a long book. I thought the mystery was simple and can be solved early in the story. There was one silly incident after another along with an annoying mother, teenage antics, family drama, lots of food, dogs and cats (oh my), and frequent use of the phrase “good gravy”. I found people’s reactions over-the-top. Cameron is married to Ben (a police officer), but she is separated from her husband. There are currently “dating” and Cameron contacts him to get intel on the case (and then he tells her to stay out of it—and she does not listen). Canal Days Calamity has a quaint small town that is pet friendly and a variety of quirky characters. I am just not the right audience for this series. I prefer more substance and less zany (just my preference). I am giving Canal Days Calamity 3 out of 5 stars.

Canal Days Calamity: A Dog Days Mystery
By Jamie M. Blair
Midnight Ink
November 2017

Review by Cynthia Chow

After having just successfully concluded an investigation, Cameron Cripps-Hayman never expected that the Metamora Action Agency would once again find themselves involved in murder. As focused as she was on the Canal Days grand opening of her sister Monica’s Dog Diggity organic dog bakery, Cameron couldn’t help but notice the body laying outside of the store. Cameron’s former community service group was last called into action to keep both her and her estranged husband out of jail, and now that another of their friends has been arrested the Metamora Action Agency is again on the case.

Cameron knows that her handyman/budding filmmaker could never have committed murder, despite having recently received a black eye from the victim. Consisting of two seniors in age and two seniors in grade, the Metamora Action Agency must investigate a casino development and the victim’s angry heirs, all without ticking off the Metamora police force. Cameron’s marriage to investigating officer Ben Hayman is still on the mend, so having her amateur detectives involved is not making her life any easier. So it’s of course the perfect time for Cameron and Monica’s mother to arrive for a visit, taking over their lives and becoming an unlikely and terrifying ally of Ben’s mother.

Fans of the first of this series will enjoy revisiting Cameron and her friends, and new readers will easily dive in as we are shown more of her family. Not in the least of these are the pack of adorable canines Cameron adopted, which include a giant Newfoundland, two still-unnamed twin mutts, and her stepdaughter’s tiny puppy. The relationships between the Cripps and Hayman women are entertaining and complex, especially as alliances between siblings and generations continue to change. Young Mia Hayman is definitely a teenager, able to exasperate her stepmother while at the same time displaying remarkable emotional support, intelligence and wit. The differences between the women never become more apparent – nor more hilarious – than with the battle to lure Cameron into the exclusive, ruling cliques who are the Daughters of Metamora. Nothing can make an adult regress to the state of childhood more than the presence of a parent, and with her mother uniting with her mother-in-law, Cameron barely has a chance. Thankfully, she will have the support of her (mostly) reliable Metamora Action Agency, not to mention the unquestionable love of her furry companions. This charming mystery series makes the most of its small-town setting as it explores evolving family relationships, rambunctious but loyal canine companions, and the humans who cater to their every need.

Blair does it again with Canal Days Calamity, the second book in the Dog Days Mystery series.. Cameron can't help it, trouble is attracted to her like a dog to a bone (pardon the pun) not to mention dead bodies. Throw in her mother and mother-in-law and you've got a real page turner.

Cameron and her  Metamora Action Agency team are back and they are heading up the Canal Days events. That is if she can keep her mother-in-law out of it. 

Metamora is a town that is a bit old fashioned in the fact that it actually has a group that call themselves the Daughters of Metamora and Cam has been fighting with her mother-in-law and the group who has been trying to fine her cause she painted her building the wrong color. Cam has better things to do than worry about that, especially when another body seems to have popped up dead and behind Dog Diggity. 

The police arrest Andy her handyman and friend and now she is worried about not being able to get things done for Canal Days. Her sister Monica who is opening Dog Diggity also needs his help to get her shop finished in time for the festivities. Thanks goodness for Old Dan, this older man in town who seems to be pretty handy. 

Cam's mother is in town and when she finds out that she needs an in with her mother-in-law Irene, she pays her fine and sort of gets Cam on Irene's good side. Though it's more that her mom wants her to be more dignified and like the Daughters of Metamora but it doesn't really happen. It does give her a reason to poke her nose around and see if she can get the scoop on the dead guys ex-wife and what might have happened to him. 

Cam is doing all of this while trying to get ready for Canal days, help her sister get Dog Diggity ready and keep her Metamora Action Agency out of to much trouble. She has her hands full but can also accidently stumble into finding a killer. 

This is a fun series and I really like all the characters (well maybe not so much her mom and Irene...lol) though they all make for a well rounded cast of characters. Cam is still trying to work on her marriage as she is still married but he is not living with her though her stepdaughter is and it seems her husband (who is also a policeman) is really trying this go around and maybe they will be able to save their marriage. Her sister Monica  finds a bit of romance this time and he is a nice Irish guy. I think my favorite character has to be Elaine might be my most favorite of all the side characters! She is a spry ninety-three year old who is quite frisky and chases after poor Old Dan. :) She cracks me up! 

I really like the storyline an the mystery this book has and I must say I didn't get it all right and I feel like I should of...lol. I guessed part of it so it has a good mystery. I just really like the overall story arc as well. 

If you enjoy cozies then you should check out this series!

Canal Days Calamity by Jamie M. Blair
Book #2: A Dog Days Mystery Series
Source: Netgalley
My Rating: 4/5 stars

Cameron Cripps-Hayman has enough on her plate! She’s up to her butt in the planning of the city’s biggest festival, Canal Days, her mother is coming for a visit, her sister’s new shop, Dog Diggity is on the verge of opening, she’s dating her husband, and her canine crew and front porch bees are still out of control. And now there’s another dead body . . . .

After the success of her first solved murder, Cameron is positive she can get to the bottom of this new mystery, meet all her Canal Days obligations, keep the cops (ahem, her husband!) from throwing around phrases like “obstruction of justice,” and keep her mom and sister on track. Nothing can possibly go wrong with the help of her crack team, the Metamora Action Agency, her mother, her mother-in-law, several senior citizens, and at least one nosy teenager. The only real problem is time. Cameron wants to see the dirty murdered behind bars before the start of Canal Days. Better get crackin’!

As she did the first time around, Cameron begins poking into the problem and asking a lot of people a lot of uncomfortable questions. There’s the ex-wife, there’s the betting buddies, there’s the people the dead guy pissed off, and whoever else Cameron can uncover. As one thing leads to another, Cameron figures out the dead guy was involved in some pretty shady business and that business may be landing closer to home than Cameron is comfortable with. She already has enough trouble (and one whopper of a compliment!) from her mother-in-law without having to drag her father-in-law into the mess.

As it turns out, Cameron once again gets herself into a whole host of trouble! Her friend has been arrested for a murder she knows he did NOT commit, in an effort to clear his name, she’s making enemies left and right with her investigations, the weather is threatening to end her hopes of a successful Canal Days, and her sister is falling for a man destined not to stick around. As if all this weren’t enough, Cameron’s budding relationship with her husband is threatened by her continued involvement in his case. If she doesn’t straighten up and fly right, he’s going to be collecting her from yet another dangerous and life-threatening situation.

The Bottom Line: I liked this book. I can’t say it over the top thrilled me, but Canal Days Calamity entertained me and kept me engaged enough to see it through to the end. There is a lot going in on this read between the huge cast of characters and that always makes for an excellent read for me. The cast is quirky, fun, smart, funny, and rounded out with animals which is sure winner for me every time. The plot is just right to be considered cozy, the ending is somewhat surprising, and the various love stories are both evolving and appropriate for the genre. In all, I think I will be sticking with this series for the foreseeable future. It’s worth it just to see how many more strays Cameron Cripps-Hayman is going to take in 😊

Wonderful cozy! With the whole family in town (including mom) things really get crazy in this installment. The yearly festival is gearing up to start and Cam is in charge. Things are looking good until a dead body shows up. Of course things go really crazy then. This book is just full of action, mystery, and just enough weird to really keep the reader hooked. I really enjoyed it so it gets 4/5 stars.

I assume it necessary to read the first book in this series otherwise it's a bit hard to get into the story. The book is a nice cozy, full of humor and with likable characters. It has a really fast rhythm and, as I told before, it is sometimes hard to understand if you haven't read the first book.
I surely get the first book in the series to have a better understandment.
On the whole a nice cozy, really entertaining.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Midnight Ink.

I remember reading the first book and thinking this was going to be a good series...and I was right! The second book was a little better than the first (in my opinion), the characters a little more fleshed out and a continuing story line with Cam, her husband Ben, her sister Monica, her stepdaughter Mia and a few other wacky characters.

Part of what I like about this book are all the dogs...but in this particular book there is Mike the Duck that steals the spotlight. I think he is trying to become a part of the pack!

There is murder, romance and even some fortune telling! And let's not forget the dog treat recipes at the end of the book. I must try these sometime for my dog, I know she would love them.

I also really liked that after the mystery was solved there was quite a bit more that happened in relation to Canal Days and the town. Sometimes books stop soon after the mystery is solved but this one tied up some loose ends.

This is a great book; this is the second book in the Dog Days Mystery Series written by Jamie Blair. This book can be read as a standalone, but once you read it you will defiantly want to go back and catch up with the other books in this series. This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. This book will keep you reading long into the night. If you are looking for a great book, then you need to read this book. I am looking forward to reading the next book by this great author. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book. The free book held no determination on my personal review.