I was not able to finish the book. The title could not keep my attention, failed to captivate me, and ultimately I moved on to another title. A real shame considering the premise and hope for the book.

Albert Einstein stated "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. I request series books by authors I like, when I don't have anything to read. I don't like series books. I am a closure person. Happy Endings. And then maybe an appearance of the couple in the next book.

So trying to review series books is almost impossible. How to judge a book when you don't like the concept of never having "The End" .Ultimately the book doesn't hold my attention because I know when I finish many things are unresolved and the development of the relationships is as slow as molasses. Crumps are given when I want the whole cake. That is not a criticism of the author or the book -- that is just the way series books are written. Exclosures happen a little bit at a time, to keep the reader coming back.

Still, I like Diane Kelly's prose. I like her characters. I love the that she anthropomorphizes the dog in the story. That is the big cherry on top.. If she wrote stand-alone books she would constantly get four stars from me.

With series. . . I just don't have the motivation to read the whole book.

What a cute book. This was my first in the Paw-Enforcement series by Diane Kelly and I hope not the last. It is a very refreshing story that does not focus so much on the worst of humanity. An infant is left at the local fire station with only a couple of clues to help identify her. Seth, a firefighter, calls his girlfriend Megan, who is fast on the case. Megan, after looking at the clues realizes that a religious cult might just be where the infant belonged. The story will keep you on your toes and excite you throughout. It is very nice to read a book that is funny and suspenseful at the same time.

Thank you to netgalley as well as the author/publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Long Paw of the Law by Diane Kelly is seventh novel in A Paw Enforcement series. I found The Long Paw of the Law to be well-written and it zipped along at a lively pace (not as fast as Brigit can eat a treat but close). Megan Luz is a developed character who loves her job and her partner, Brigit. I enjoy the humor interjected into the story and the chapter’s told from Brigit’s point-of-view. Brigit’s commentary always makes me laugh. She has a new piggy toy that oinks that she loves to devour and squeak repeatedly. The mysteries are complex with various twists and turns to surprise readers. There is a dramatic takedown where you know Brigit is hoping the guilty party will run so she can give chase. I like that both mysteries wrapped up at the end with all the details provided for readers. The relationship between Brigit and Megan is delightful. Megan may be in charge, but Brigit has ways of getting back at her when she feels it is needed. My only complaint is the foul language and the intimate references. I like to read cozy mysteries because they do not contain either of those components traditionally. The Long Paw of the Law can be read as a standalone, but I feel it is beneficial to read the series in order. It allows you to watch Megan mature as the series progresses and I believe each book is better than the previous. I am looking forward to the next A Paw Enforcement novel which is Paw of the Jungle. The Long Paw of the Law has a bouncing baby, a devoted K9 companion, a hunky boyfriend, an evil cult leader, a garage bandit, and one tenacious patrol officer.

This book did not hold my interest for long periods of time. I will hopefully circle back to this book soon.

Megan Luz works for the Fort Worth Police Department. Her partner, Brigit, is a working canine in the department. One night, Megan’s boyfriend, Seth, a fire fighter and bomb tech for the FW Fire Department, receives a new born baby from an unknown man, who is following the city policy, wherein people can drop off babies they either cannot care for or do not want, with no questions asked. Seth calls Megan, who, once on the scene, is immediately taken in by the baby. After calling Child Protective Services, who arrive at the firehouse and take the baby to the nearby hospital while looking for a family to foster the baby, Meg and Brigit become involved in the search for where the baby came from. The baby’s young mother to be turns out to a member of a religious cult who live in a compound on the outskirts of the city. The mother has been told by the leader of the cult that her baby died, though he has given it up to the authorities. This mother and the baby’s father, who is also a member of the cult, have been forbidden any contact by the controlling cult leader, though each finds this difficult to do. Meg and Brigit work on this case in between their other duties, involving a police detective who has become a mentor for Meg, in the mystery. Jumping right in, Meg and Brigit ferret through a myriad of clues and red herrings to figure things out. However, figuring out what is going on and getting the mother and child reunited is not so easy, as they soon find out.

I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery. I loved the way the author referred to the canine Brigit as an officer, not as some dog who just works along side the police officer. Meg is also a clever, strong woman, who knows what she wants and how to go about achieving her goals and figuring things out. The mystery is not that complex, but it is definitely fascinating and fast-moving. I loved the way the author has Meg and Seth together, while having their two canines, Brigit and Blast, also together. Two romances to provide a good side line in the book! The story was, as I said, fast paced and well done, as were all the characters, so much so that I had some difficulty putting it down. I have not read any others in the series, but now will. I think all dog lovers or readers who enjoy a good, solid mystery will enjoy this one. One plus is the fact that there are no sex/intimate romantic scenes (I did not even miss them). I received this form NetGalley to read and review.

I enjoy this series and this book is a great addition. This is book 7 in the Paw Enforcement series. Meg and her k-9 Brigit respond to a police call at the local fire station which has a newborn baby from the Safe Baby drop off program. Seth, her boyfriend and his bomb sniffing dog Blast meet them at the door and hand off the newborn. Meg sees help woven into the blanket around the baby and begins to investigate. Following the clues she discovers a cult in downtown Fort Worth that is scary in it's walled compound. Good story and love the animal aspect. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is a cute book and my first in the series. I would recommend this to any book and animal lover. Brigit is the K9 partner to Megan and they have found themselves a doosie of a case in this book. From a surrendered baby to multiple thefts these two are busy in this book.

It's cute, funny and sweet. I liked it alot


I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Luz and Brigit are on the case to track down the parents of an infant left at Seth's fire station. There's plenty of intrigue, between a creepy cult and a group of garage-door opener thieves. I always enjoy Kelly's mysteries, which do a great job balancing humor with suspense, and focusing on crimes other than murder.

Seth loves Megan, Brigit loves Blast…sort of like double-dating except with human cops and canine cops. What an easy enjoyable read. Who drops a baby off at a fire station? In truth fire stations are safe places for many things with their 24 hour a day schedules and their kind and understanding firemen and women. Nonetheless, Megan thinks something is wrong or someone was wrong concerning this baby and why was the word “Help” stitched in the baby’s beautiful blanket? Megan can’t seem to let it go and Brigit seems to get a whiff of it now and then. While easy to read, this storyline contained very serious and frightening crime. One which has some definite twists and turns and surprises. Pretty well an easy to read page turner.

Having a chapter that the POV is from the human cop and a chapter where the POV is from the dog is actually kind of cute. Who knew a dog could think such things? I sound like I’m making fun but I’m not. It was sweet to read. The characters were well-defined except for maybe Blast the canine male cop. We didn’t hear much about him except for his pesky males sniffing ways:).

This is Book 7 in a series titled “A Paw Enforcement Novel”. While I think this could easily stand alone, all of Diane Kelly’s novels have good reviews. Check them out. Have a good bark.

***This book was provided to me free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are definitely my own.

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

The dynamic duo of K9 Sargent Brigit and human partner Megan is hard at work trying to rid Fort Worth of bad guys, and they are better than ever! Number seven in the series, it can be read as a standalone, but many first-time readers will want to go back and read the rest of the series. I notice this time just how much Megan has matured as a cop since the first novel, and how Brigit is as much fun now as she was then. I very much enjoy Megan and her family, firefighter and bomb squad tech Seth, Detective Audrey Jackson, and Brigit, the 100-pound bundle of energy.

Megan and best friend and confidante Brigit are out on patrol and receive a call from her boyfriend, Seth. An unidentified man just delivered a newborn according to the “safe drop” program in Texas, in which a parent can anonymously surrender a child to a fire department station or other designated public facility. The infant is swaddled in a beautiful baby quilt with a matching hat and booties. These are so perfectly made that Megan is struck by how much this baby girl seemed to have been wanted. As she gives the tiny girl to the CPS worker, Megan notices a loose thread along one edge…attached to embroidery, with what looks similar to a peace sign, and the word HELP! Megan kept the blanket and called her mentor, Detective Audrey Jackson. Brigit followed the scent trail of the man as far as she could, and they watched security footage of the man making the safe drop, but his hat kept them from seeing the man.

On the far outskirts of Fort Worth, a young woman has been told by “Father Emmanuel” that her newborn died at the hospital because of a bad reaction to one of the immunizations. Devastated, Juliette wants simply to be left alone. Father had not allowed her to go to the hospital with him, and her parents always did what Father wanted. Father may claim to be head of this peaceful sect, but his “teachings” are more about him than about any deity. The “refuge” of the compound is less about being a sanctuary and more about keeping those inside in and those outside, including police, out. It is a challenge to Megan to see if she can find the mother of the darling little girl before CPS places her for adoption.

Megan is also in the middle of other challenges, including trying to find the pair of thieves who are stealing people’s garage remotes and how to bring some joy into Seth’s grandfather, Ollie’s, grumpy life. Brigit’s biggest concerns include spending time with Seth’s working yellow Lab, Blast, getting more treats, and being the best partner to Megan. Just when it all seems to be coming together, the worst possible thing happens.

Megan Luz and Brigit are still the same law…um…paw enforcement officers that I came to know and love in their first mystery. Megan has matured into a less impulsive beat cop who is being mentored primarily by Detective Audrey Jackson and when available, Detective Hector Bustamonte. One thing is certain, Megan still has her heart set on becoming a detective, even though she can’t sit for the exam for just over 2 years from now. She grew up with a stutter, and throughout her time of growing into a successful police officer, the stutter rarely occurs. Megan is so three-dimensional I could almost expect to see her driving through town with her K-9 vehicle, Brigit chomping happily on her pink squeaky pig toy in the back.

There are so many things I enjoyed about The Long Paw of the Law! The author’s trademark humor is LOL funny, the sound effects unique, and some characters like Derek Mackey still make an appearance are obnoxious. The chapters are set up in sets of three: the baddest guy, Megan, and Brigit. While I still have mixed feelings about seeing the thoughts and actions of the baddest guy in the mystery throughout, I do enjoy ending each set of three chapters with Brigit’s take on each situation. I like the history that Megan considers throughout, including the background Texas has with cults in the state.

Megan is up for the challenge of finding the bad guy and the sweet infant’s mother, and work with Audrey to find the best way to do so. Even though the reader knows who the bad guy is, the excitement and apprehension comes while watching them do their jobs. The final chapters bring a new level of fear and heartache, but overall, the ending is satisfactory with no loose ends remaining. I highly recommend this to those who love well-written cozy mysteries, dogs/ K9’s, a lot of humor, and a bit of romance.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

The Long Paw of the Law is the 7th book in the Paw Enforcement series written by Diane Kelly. Texas police officer Megan Luz and her police dog, Brigit is called to her boyfriend, Seth, fire station because of an abandon baby. As Meg and Brigit continue their investigation, they are led to a reclusive religious cult, is this were the baby came from? This is a great book with a wonderful story with well developed characters and plot. This book will keep you reading long into the night. If you are looking for a good book/ series, I recommend this one. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Loved this book, the K-9 Brigit, and her capable handler, Texas officer Megan Luz. Meg's boyfriend, Seth, is a bomb squad technician and firefighter for the Ft. Worth Fire Department (and army reservist). Seth also has a service dog, a yellow Lab named Blast. It is on Seth's rotation that a baby is dropped off at the fire department, owing to the Texas Safe Haven Statute. As she's marveling at the newborn, however, she detects a hastily sewn in message in the baby's blankee, turning an abandoned baby into a crime that has yet to be determined, but one that Meg is determined to solve.

The story is told in multiple POVs, one of them being Brigit's. Protagonist Megan fills another POV voice, while the antagonist fills the third. Discovering the "who" is not the problem--it's the crime itself that must be ascertained and properly finessed into conclusion. The author has done a very credible job of describing the cults that inhabit the southern area of the U.S. In this, the storyteller paints a composite leader in Father Emmanuel, who created his People of Peace compound. Cut off from society, living without electronics or knowledge of the outside world, the people live simply and self-contained. The author also throws in a sub-plot re burglaries.

Author Kelly has included well-fleshed support characters and many laugh out loud moments including those with Seth's grandfather and Derek, the "Big Dick" Mackey. It's obvious Meg is on a detective track. She's well developed and even as this was my first book with this author and series, found an interesting history, life outside of the department, and keen intelligence.

This novel grabbed my attention immediately, proceeded to bury me in succeeding pages impossible to put down. Really enjoyed the characters, the pace, the locale, the well-plotted storyline.

I was given this ebook download by the publisher and NetGalley and was thrilled to have the opportunity to read and review. Difficult to part with, would absolutely love to follow any succeeding new novels in the series. Recommended for any who enjoy K-9 associated books, police procedurals, suspense, and sweet and easy pseudo cozy. 4.5/5

I have read one or two books by Diane Kelly but none of this series. I wish that I had because The Long Paw of the Law stands out as an excellent police K9 book. The plot is realistic along with local Texas favor. I adored Brigit, shelter dog now Meg’s canine partner. I liked Meg too. I had just been reading of true shelter dogs who had become rescue dogs, so Brigit fit those real life stories well. Also Meg is a regular cop with regular duties that makes her seem to be genuine. Still there are lots of clues with the twists and turns in Meg’s major case.

All in all, Diane Kelly has written an appealing book that is entirely a pleasure to read. While it stands well alone, I now would like to see how Meg has progressed as a police office. How Brigit and she first worked as well as the beginning of her romance with Seth.

The sign of a great book for me is staying up until the wee hours of the morning to finish it. The Long Paw of the Law is one of those books. As a rule, I'm not a fan of a mystery written from multiple points of view. I happily make an exception in this case. Megan Luz, police officer and dog handler, Brigit, her very awesome dog partner and The Father alternate chapters. Who knew dogs could have such thoughts about their humans? Brigit's chapters are laugh out loud funny. We meet Megan's boyfriend, Seth, a bomb tech/firefighter for the Fort Worth fire department and his dog, Blast. Blast is Brigit's boyfriend. I love it.
Seth calls Megan to ask her to come to the fire station - a new born baby has been surrendered and he wants Megan to make the arrangements with social services. While caring for the baby and waiting for social services, she makes a discovery - the word help has been stitched into the hem of the baby blanket. That changes everything and the baby is moved from adoptable to protective custody pending the outcome of the search for her parent. Megan works on this case as well as a string of burglaries. The real life police work, the mundane and the exciting, add depth to the mystery. It's more of a puzzle, follow the clues with a hint of romance sort of cozy. Each chapter pulled me into the next one and I was sorry when I reached the last page. I wanted more of Megan, Brigit, Seth and Blast but will have to wait for book #8.
If you are new to this series, The Long Paw of the Law can be read as a stand alone but, be warned, if you enjoyed it as much as I did, you will want to read the previous six books.

The Long Paw of the Law: A Paw Enforcement Mystery
By Diane Kelly
St. Martin’s Press
October 30, 2018

Review by Cynthia Chow

There are no immediate baby plans in the future for ambitious young Fort Worth Police Officer Megan Luz, as she is determined that nothing will come in her way of becoming a detective as soon as possible. A baby does soon take over her professional life though, a result of the Texas Safe Haven Statute of 1999 declaring that infants can legally be left in designated safe places. In this case that’s the Fort Worth Fire Department, where Megan’s fireman boyfriend Seth has contacted Megan officially to assist with Child Services. When Megan spots the word “help” sewn into the infant’s quilted blanket, she calls her K-9 partner Brigit into service to follow the scent back to the man claiming to be the father. Although the trail is cut off, further clues in the blanket point towards the People of Peace, a church commune that closely resembles a cult.

While legal roadblocks prevent Megan and Brigit from searching the church property for the mother, they continue to investigate the background of mysterious leader known as Father Emmanuel. It’s a task Megan balances with her daily patrols, which has them following up on a series of auto and home burglaries linked to the thefts of garage door remotes. As narratives alternate between Megan, Brigit, and the arrogant Father, the clock ticks down on multiple investigations, with the direst being the fates of the baby’s parents.

This continues to be an outstanding and compelling series, one that makes the thoughts of a police dog as realistic as they are hilarious. Brigit’s opinions on Seth and Megan’s “wrestling” skills are a delight, but her bond with her police officer partner is undeniable. Megan and Brigit trust one another completely, and they are so much more than just canine and handler. Roommates and best friends, they are an effective police team who one never doubts will track down their criminal prey. Just as admirable is Megan’s human mentor Detective Audrey Jackson, a relationship that proves to be an enviable example of women helping one another to succeed. Fans of Diane Kelly’s Tara Holloway series will enjoy a brief cameo by the IRS investigative agent, but it is Megan who refuses to give up as she follows her suspicions towards the peaceful church community. The reality of the limits of police work is balanced with the rewarding moments of successful arrests, especially when done so with the involvement of the focused and disciplined Brigit. The history of cults in Texas, some ingenious detective work, and the always delightful K-9 officer make this novel as entertaining novel for police procedurals fans as it will be for those who truly consider dogs to be their best friends.

More than a cozy this one has it all. Characters with depth and relationships evolve throughout a twisting mystery that kept me engaged to the final page

Texas police officer Megan Luz and her K-9 partner Brigit are back in one of my favorite cozy mystery series. In this installment Megan and Brigit are dealing with two cases. One is a string of burglaries and the other is a baby dropped off at the fire station. Megan is determined to find out why the baby’s blanket had the word help stitched on it. This story takes us on a twisted path and leads us to some dangerous places but Megan and Brigit are on the case.
I really love this series and eagerly await each new installment. The Long Paw of the Law does not disappoint.

I have read the first four books in this series and have enjoyed them. This latest is by far, according to me, her best. Enjoyed the point of view from Brigit, with a good solid story and engaging characters. I heartily recommend this series. This is an uncorrected digital galley. I received this e-book from NetGalley in return for an unbiased review.

Thank you, Net Galley, I have read all of Diane Kelly's "paw" books and this is wonderful. I love Megan and Bridget, her canine partner. I have a lot of enjoyment too from the location of the book, I live in the area.
The story Is about a little baby who is dropped off at the fire station where Seth, Megan’s boyfriend works. She tracks down the mother who is trapped in a crazy cult. Megan also helps solve a burglary ring.
Megan is on the job with Bridget! She uses clever ways to help. I love the writing and the series.
I laughed a lot and the loved the action. The parts about Ollie, Seth’s grandfather was a treat.
Keep up the great writing Ms. Kelly