Second book I've read in this series. Not bad but nothing special though I like that the heroine is plump and no one cares, not even the heroine. There's no fat shaming, and it's lovely.

Meet Corinna Chapman who loves running her precious little Australian bakery, aptly named Earthly Delights. Well, it doesn't take long for mischief to enter, in the form of a man collapsing in her shop. Throw in a ex-service dog that has gone missing and you've stirred up a tasty little mystery.

Corinna jumps in head-first to solve this mystery, but when a smuggling ring becomes involved, everything becomes much more dangerous than she anticipated. Corinna will have to dig deep to solve this mystery, locate the missing dog and keep the oven running. Will she be able to do it all? Read this tasty mystery to find out!

This was the first book in this series that I read. I wasn't sure who everyone was when starting but I didn't really need to as everyone is explained in the book. I really enjoyed this book. The soldier with the missing pup wasn't the only mystery. I will be going back and reading the rest of the series.

The 7th book in a mystery series is so good I can't wait for the 8th. I really enjoyed the mystery and found the characters engaging and likeable

I read this book as a standalone, and not having read the series before was a handicap.
I could not get familiar with the characters. I would highly recommend reading the series before picking up this book.
That said, the book was a fairly enjoyable read. Missing dogs, baking delights aside, there is plenty in the form of break-ins, and threatening notes happening.
There is a lot to get through, but things do become clear.
A good book, if not for disconnect I felt with the characters.

If you are a fan of the Ms Fisher mysteries, you will love this book. It’s full of mystery and intrigue. Although this is the 7th book in the series, you can definitely read it as a standalone book as well. The characters seem real to me, as well as the descriptions of the life in the bakery. Mysteries are usually an easy read for me because it keeps it moving, and this is no exception!

Synopsis:
Corinna Chapman, baker extraordinaire, talented sleuth, stalwart friend and lover is back! When a distraught Scottish veteran from Afghanistan is knocked unconscious, waking up to find his beloved ex-service dog missing, Corinna and her lover, Daniel, find themselves inextricably drawn into the machinations of a notorious underworld gang of drug runners.

Corinna and Daniel need to pull together all the strings to find the connections between their wandering Scottish veteran, his kidnapped dog, a student dramatic society that's moved into Corinna's building, burglaries, and the threatening notes that begin to mysteriously appear in Corinna's apartment. Between her forays into danger, there is still time in Corinna's life for tender encounters as the delicious aromas of newly baked breads, muffins and treats waft out of Corinna's bakery, Earthly Delights.

Kerry Greenwood is the author of many bestselling novels including six previous books in the Corinna Chapman series and the wildly popular bestselling Phryne Fisher series.
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I received this book for review purposes from NetGalley. ⠀

The Spotted Dog
(Corinna Chapman #7)
by Kerry Greenwood

Hardcover, 288 pages
Published September 10th 2019 by Poisoned Pen Press (first published 2019)




Goodreads synopsis:
Betrayal is a bitter pill to swallow…

Rising at four o'clock every morning isn't Corinna Chapman's favorite part of running her Australian bakery, Earthly Delights, and the glowing light of dawn starts to feel even harsher when a seemingly disturbed man collapses in her shop. When the man, a military veteran, comes around and reveals that his beloved ex-service dog is missing, Corinna and her longtime companion, Daniel, feel compelled to help. It soon becomes clear, though, that they have gotten involved in something much bigger and more complicated than they had bargained for… especially when threatening notes begin to appear in Corinna's apartment.

Along with searching for the kidnapped dog and trying to stay out of range of the gang of drug runners who are probably responsible for his disappearance, Corinna has to make sure the delicious breads, muffins, and treats that she has become known for are still fresh and ready for her eager customers. Can she take the heat?


***

3.5 Stars

This is the seventh book in the Corinna Chapman series by Kerry Greenwood.

The strength of this story is the writer’s ability to make us connect with Corinna and her love for baking and cooking. This really makes her business Earthly Delights shine on the page.

This was a fast read but I had a bit of trouble really getting into it. I couldn’t connect with Corinna and her ability to be an armchair sleuth. Since this was my first foray into this series I was a bit handicapped and was not familiar with all the regular cast and recurring characters and that put me at a disadvantage. I suggest starting this series at the beginning to help make more sense of who is who and what is going on.

Also, I am not sure “The Spotted Dog” is the right title for this. I think that maybe a subtitle might serve in selling it better, a subtitle that will give the reader a better idea of the story within. The way it stands now, the cover reminds me of a middle grade novel instead of an adult cozy mystery. I want people to know this is a cozy and compell to dig into it immediately.

The mystery wasn’t my favorite part of this. Don’t get me wrong. I enjoyed the read. But there were way too many insignificant characters that didn’t seem to have a purpose in the plotline. The more these characters were littered in the story the more confused I came. They threw me off. In a way, that can be good when you want to redirect people’s attention, but there comes a point when that becomes overkill. I had no idea whodunit because of this.

I had a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that a local baker might in any way be associated with the Spear of Destiny / Lance of Longinus that pierced Jesus’s side during the crucifixion. I wish this concept had been introduced earlier in the story and I think the entire mystery might have made so much more sense. If it was, maybe I overlooked this fact and I apologize for bringing it up.

Overall this was a decent book. Readable and keeps you guessing until the end. In many areas this is a much loved series, so take this review with a grain of salt. Make the decision for yourself. Check it out and give this cozy mystery a go!

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

The Spotted Dog is the 7th Corinna Chapman cozy mystery by Kerry Greenwood. Released 10th Sept 2019 by Poisoned Pen Press, it's 288 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats. (Other editions available in hardcover, audio, and mass market paperback).

This was my first entry into this series and it was delightful. The plot works perfectly well as a standalone and introduction to the ensemble cast of wonderfully loopy/eccentric characters. Main protagonist Corinna is an artisanal baker who is also a hedonist, deeply ethical, artistic, loyal, passionate, and kind. Her extended synergistic non-biological family, who live in an eccentric (putting it mildly) community/landmark building called, appropriately 'Insula' help or hinder her in the solving of mysteries which come her way.

This is a cozy series; there are even recipes for baked goods at the back of the book. This is, however, not a book for pearl clutchers. I found it absolutely delightful, but fair warning, the language is rough (used in context, not gratuitously), there is a witch wandering around dispensing misty wisdom and amulets, there is sexual content (again, in context and beautifully written), there are also lovingly depicted non-traditional relationships: a married gay couple, a filial reformed junkie with a passion for baking and reading, a classics professor who might be pushing 100 years old having a physical and emotional relationship with a lady who also lives in the building, some tantalizing glimpses of a mistress leather/bondage/discipline practitioner, as well as Corinna herself, a self described fury/Venus, fully capable of dispensing rough justice on those who would harm her or hers. They make a wonderfully weird mix and Ms. Greenwood is a capable enough writer to pull it off (and make it look easy).

I really liked this book. I went immediately after finishing it and legally acquired the rest of the books in the series (Yes, Virginia, I bought them).

I have not tried any of the recipes in the book, unless you count the couple of Gins&Tonic during the reading. (Corinna's also a fan of G&Ts).

Five stars.

This was my first for this series and it did not disappoint. Between the pup and the fun of the banter between characters, you begin to notice the crazy ride you just jumped on. I laughed, sighed, and even teared up a bit at the antics of these fun characters. Will be reading more.

**thanks to the publishers for the ARC**

I have not read any of the other books in this series nor any other books written by the author. After this one, I think it might have helped. The plot involves a Scottish/Australian soldier who has lost his faithful companion, his dog. Most likely the dog has been kidnapped. The soldier and his dog were in Afghanistan, where a lot of things involving the dog and the soldier happened, as can be expected, that impact on the story. Corinna and her Israeli beloved work through a myriad of clues to figure out what happened and to find the dog.

This is an okay book, but, in my opinion, not a great one. There were a lot of times, as I read it, I had to retrace my steps and reread sections, mostly because I was not sure I fully understood what was going on or being said. Perhaps it would have helped if I was more familiar with Australian culture, slang and ways of doing things. There also was not as much back story about the characters, who they were, what their personalities were and how they impacted on the story, etc. In addition, the author used the book to present opinions on many varied subjects, which detracted a bit. Finally, the language was a bit flowery in descriptions of ordinary things, which made me wonder what the author’s goal was in this. If you enjoyed the other books in the series or if you enjoy the author’s style, this book will probably appeal to you. For me it became a difficult read, due to the style, verbal flourishes, and the fact that I was no very familiar with the characters. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.

Somehow I missed reading this series. I knew about them but all of my attention went to her Phryne Fisher series. Time to set that right. This is the seventh in the series and I'm putting the previous six books on my must read list right now. The Spotted Dog worked well as a stand alone. Corinna turned out to be a character I really liked, the kind of person I would like for a friend. She has a big heart and is there to help when asked. Dividing her skills between running a bakery and working part time as a PI with her partner/partner, Daniel, she has very little down time. Soon she has another case to solve when a war vet shows up at her bakery, totally distraught over the theft of his service dog, also a war vet. Who would steal a dog? Corinne and Daniel set out to find the dog and along the way have to deal with the local police who wish the pair would stay out of their way. That's not going to happen.
Not only Corrine and Daniel but all of the other people who make up her friends/family made me want to read the pervious books. Add to the fact that this was a satisfying cozy mystery with enough twists, turns and red herrings to keep me guessing, I had no hesitation to give The Spotted Dog a five star rating.

Corinna the baker and her love, detective Daniel are off on another mystery. Corinna lives in a complex known as Insula with a lovely rooftop garden. She owns a bakery. But somehow, she always finds her peace interrupted. A vet appears at her back door, worn out and battered, but missing his dog. Then the apartments get broken in at Insula. Who took the dog and who is behind the attempted burglaries? Are they tied together? Corinna and Daniel strive to solve both.

This is the 7th book in this series, but each book is a stand-alone mystery. The same loveable characters return in this book. So glad to see Corinna return!

A new addition to the Corinna Chapman mystery series. Still enjoying running her bakery business, Earthly Delights, Corinna was unprepared for another mystery to land in her lap. When a man collapses in the shop she feels she has to help but gets way more than she bargained for. An entertaining and enjoyable, fun read.

The Spotted Dog by Kerry Greenwood is the seventh book in the Corinna Chapman Mystery series. When a military veteran comes to Corinna’s bakery, Earthly Delights, in search of his missing dog, Geordie, Corinna and Daniel try to reclaim the missing doggy while steering clear of the drug-runners who set everything in motion.

Corinna is a baker and the owner of Earthly Delights, a bread & bakery shop in Melbourne, Australia. Corinna is also a part-time private investigator.

On a normal, perfectly calm morning, a distraught, dishevelled, war veteran stumbles into Earthly Delights, seeking help to find his missing dog, also a veteran of the Afghanistan war.

That plea for help causes Corinna to rally her troops, particularly Daniel, her lover and a private eye. There is also Sister Mary, the local staunch advocate for the homeless, addicted, and mentally challenged outcasts of Melbourne and Corinna’s apprentice, Jason, a reformed street kid. Various other residents include a new group of students rehearsing Shakespeare’s The Tempest and Philomena - injured in a mysterious accident, she’s confined to a wheelchair and cannot speak.

In addition, there is an appearance by the local police detective, who is naturally not over-happy at the amateur involvement in the case.

There are some wonderful, highly amusing moments in the book and I really appreciated the unashamed feelings Corinna had for her beau, Daniel. He totally trusts Corinna, her skills and her judgement and the tall, handsome and mysterious fellow is a very heady mix for her.

If you are already reading this series, this newest instalment will more than satisfy your cravings. If you’re new to the series, The Spotted Dog can be read as a stand-alone as all of the characters are aptly introduced and the plot is neatly tied up at the end.

Reading The Spotted Dog has created a need for me to check out the rest of the books in the Corinna Chapman series.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley at my own request. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

Alasdair's service dog Geordie has been stolen! Alasdair is an Afghanistan war veteran and Georgie is incredibly important to him. Luckily, he's stumbled into Corinna Chapman, an intrepid baker and solver of mysteries. I'd not read this series before but found it quick to adapt. Corinna's got some other things going on in her neighborhood and she's working with Daniel, her partner, to sort out a ransomware attack on her cafe and burglaries in their Melbourne neighborhood. Who would steal a dog and why? There's some nice twists but I think the charm here lies in Corinna herself- she's a plus size woman with attitude! Nice characters, a fun plot, and a few recipes make this a good read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Fans of the Phyrne Fisher series and readers of cozies should try this one.

The Spotted Dog is the seventh in Kerry Greenwood’s Corinna Chapman mystery series. I love her Phryne Fisher series and was so excited to discover a new series to read. This series features a baker, a woman who owns the Earthly Delights and lives in a co-op apartment building with enchanting and interesting residents. Everyone is extraordinary whether their talents are baking, magic, cooking, or the general art of living.

Corinna and her neighbors also have a large collection of animals who are fully anthropomorphized as Corinna imagines them sharing their opinions quite liberally. There is a mystery, or more accurately there are several mysteries. There are three burglaries, a dognapping, cyber ransomware, and even murder, though we learn of it quite late in the story. How much are they tied together or ar those ties red herrings? Are those red herrings anthropomorphized? (Kidding!) There certainly are questions that need answering which drives the reader to keep reading.



I am so sad. I did not love The Spotted Dog. This is where personal taste is such a big thing in reading. I like cozy mysteries and Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple is the most well-known exemplar of that genre. The Phryne Fisher stories are cozy mysteries. But there is a certain class of modern cozy that drives me round the bend and The Spotted Dog falls into it. I am talking about the cozies feature lots of animals, friendly neighbors with special gifts, and that are altogether twee. I will tolerate just about any kind of mystery except one that are cute. Cute and myself do not belong together, so I am not reading the Cat Who Fwowed Up or he various witchy detectives, or even the butcher, baker, and candlestick-maker.

If you like sweet and lovey mysteries, you will probably enjoy this one. It is simply not up my alley. That she creates engaging characters and a complex plot is immaterial when there is no real sense of jeopardy, but many people like exactly that kind of mystery and they will enjoy this as, perhaps, a slightly better than average example of a genre I dislike.

The Spotted Dog will be released on September 10th. I received an e-galley from the publisher through NetGalley.

The Spotted Dog at Poisoned Pen Press
Kerry Greenwood author site

It seems that I have been waiting forever for The Spotted Dog rather than "only" seven years. I have read, re-read and listened to the adventures of Corinna Chapman, plus-size baker extraordinaire, and her gorgeous Israeli detective lover, Daniel. So I was delighted to receive an advance copy. Set in a highly fictionalized Melbourne, Corinna owns and runs Earthly Delights, a bakery on the ground floor of the Insula, an apartment building inhabited by a weird and wonderful cast of occupants who have a supportive and loving community of their own.

The Spotted Dog opens as all the books do, at the 4 AM rising of Corinna to do the baking. Baking is her calling, but even after years, Corinna is not at her best. Thankfully she has an assistant, ex-addict Jason, who comes in even earlier. Corinna opens the door to release Heckle and Jekyll, the "mouse police" from their nightly duties. Down the alley, she sees a tall man shambling towards her and mumbling that Sister Mary sent him to see Daniel. Sister Mary is the local stalwart advocate for the homeless, addicted, and mentally challenged outcasts of Melbourne. Of course, Corinna brings him in, where he collapses. Someone has mugged him and stolen his beloved service dog, Geordie. Alasdair Sinclair and Geordie were invalided out of the Army after horrible experiences in Afghanistan. A companion mystery is that of a visitor to Insula, Philomela, left both in a wheelchair and mute after an accident. Then there are a series of break-ins occurring at Insula. Can all these happenings be connected?

Corinna, with her absolute comfort with her body and huge heart, is one of my favorite fictional characters. All the supporting characters from previous books at least make an appearance. The interlocking storylines are a bit convoluted in this one, however. The "Autlralianisms" are plentiful, so Google is definitely a friend! As usual, the food descriptions are mouth-watering and recipes are included. The Spotted Dog is another satisfying read, though perhaps not one of my personal favorites. It could be read as a stand-alone but I would recommend reading the entire series. Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen.

RATING- 4 Stars

Corinna Chapman hates getting up at 4:00 AM, but what's a baker going to do? Life requires sustenance and she provides the bread, along with her able-bodies assistant, as well as Heckle and Jeckle, the baker cats who patrol the shop seeking out vermin. One morning, Corinna finds a Scottish veteran outside her shop and takes him in. Alaidsair's war-dog named Geordie has been stolen. Corinna loves her life at Insula and all her neighbors, but when a Catholic fanatic breaks in and destroys an apartment looking for something heretical, Corinna is concerned. Then her friend's computer is infested with a virus; then someone breaks into her apartment...twice. What is happening at lovely Insula? Corinna and Daniel, her lover, want to help Alaidair and their friends. As always, the characters are the best part of this series. Recommended for those who like cozies with a little bite.

Love this series from Kerry Greenwood - pure indulgence, comfort reading, and so much self confidence and love.

I love Miss Phryne Fisher and I have fallen in love with Corrina. Size 20 ex-accountant now baker woman who knows her worths down to the last crumb and sip of sav blanc. Corrina is funny, self-sufficient, talented, warm and hot-blooded amazing individual. She is surrounded by a colourful bunch of people and animals and finds troubles every step of the way. Dog gets stolen, apartments get broken into, skillet gets to be used together with all sorts of odd instruments and tools. Muffins are being baked, music is being written and a play rehearsed. Did I say colourful bunch? Add some more colours. Corrina together with her Mr Dreamscele solve a crime or two, but danger, chase, gunfire and explosions do not take away from the warmth, humour and yumminess of all things Corrina Chapman and Co.