The beginning of the book threw me for a loop for I was not expecting the intensity. I had to check that this was the same series I had been reading. I started at number 8. After the beginning, the story did mellow out. I was not expecting a missing body at the crime scene.

Officer Megan Luz and her K-9 partner Brigit are in the search for clues and the victim. They were called into this investigation by Detective Audrey Jackson. Officer Luz respects and likes Detective Jackson.

What I like about this series is the humor, tenacity, and feistiness of the protagonist. Ms. Kelly makes the series a delight to read. Since this is just the second in the series that I have read, I was not sure that the point of view writing style would continue to change. It is not written from just one person’s or dog’s view point. The changing kept the story moving along.

The setting is Forth Worth, TX. Along with investigating a murder with no body, the K-9 team investigates home repair scammers. I found the pace lively. The plot was terrific. I enjoyed the red herrings before the big reveal.
I am looking forward to some time in the near future to catch up on this series. Looking forward to the next installment.

I was given an advanced reader’s copy. I am not required to leave a positive review.

Hello, hello! St. Martin’s Press offered me access to Diane Kelly’s latest canine police procedural mystery, Bending the Paw and I couldn’t say no (I actually could say no, but I wanted to read it). It’s the ninth book in her Paw Enforcement series about a Fort Worth police officer and her K-9 partner. Publication isn’t until the 27th, but I was told an early review was fine. I received access to the ARC through NetGalley, so I must thank them as well as Sara Beth Haring at St. Martin’s Press for the chance to read it in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Let’s get to it!

Bending the Paw follows Officer Megan Luz and her K-9 partner Brigit as they try to help detective Jackson solve what appears to be a grizzly murder. The problem? There’s no body, only ludicrous amounts of blood. Throw in an engagement and wedding prep, plus a hailstorm and the onslaught of both legitimate and scam artists roofers, and you’ve got everything you need to keep this pair busy.

I’ll say it. I knew what was going to happen from the first couple of pages. The whole main plot was fairly standard. However, the subplots with Megan’s engagement and the whole roofing company thing kept the story interesting even though they were pretty predictable as well. It might just be all of the stuff I read and watch, but it wasn’t hard to see where everything was going. But again, that didn’t make it any less enjoyable to read.

I don’t want to give everything away if you’re going to read it, so feel free to skip ahead to the end of the spoilers, which start now.

My biggest complaint with this book is that despite all of the tests they do on the blood, no blood thinners are detected. Blood coagulates! In order for it to be collected over a period of time, something has to keep it thin, especially in this instance. And I’m sure a seemingly legitimate excuse for the presence of blood thinners could have been devised by the “killers.” They seem smart enough for that.

No more spoilers.

Beyond that, I didn’t really have any major problems with the book. I love Brigit. Megan’s a little annoying with her whole making it known she’s a K-9 officer so she can take Brigit in restaurants and other places when she’s off duty, but other than that she’s an interesting character. Frankie and Seth seem cool, but I’ll have to go back and read the first eight books to get a better grasp of them. That being said, it’s fine starting at book nine. It works well as a standalone.

The writing was tight and fast-paced. Kelly does a wonderful job at giving you pertinent details from previous books to help make reading this one possible without having to start from book one. It’s a quick and fun read.

Ultimately, I really enjoyed Bending the Paw. In fact, I’ve added the first couple of books to my want-to-read list so I can pick them up soon. I might also check out some of Diane Kelly’s other series.

Overall, I gave it 4 out of 5 stars. Probably closer to 3.5, but that’s just because I figured it out so early. If you want a quick, fun read, you should check it out.

Megan and Brigit are back in two baffling cases. She has a lot of blood but no body and she has a roofing contractor who isn’t following through but is it a crime? With the help of her furry partner and an active imagination Megan proves once again that sometimes you have to think outside the box to solve a puzzle. This is a wonderful addition to the series.

I wish to thank NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this intriguing mystery in return for an honest review. I always enjoy stories that include police dogs. I feel that this book would be categorized as a cozy mystery despite all the blood. I loved its colourful, eye-catching cover.

Police officer, Megan, and her canine partner, Brigid, have been called to a crime scene. There is a massive amount of blood drenching the room, but no body. Clues suggest two different perpetrators as two different sized shoeprints are found in the blood on the floor. This was the horrific scene meeting the woman of the house when she returned home from work and her husband, Greg, is missing.

Scientific analysis indicates that all the blood belongs to the husband, and it would be impossible for anyone to survive that amount of blood loss. Reports suggest this was a happily married couple. The story is told from the perspective of Megan, K-9 Brigid's thoughts and reactions which adds humour to the story, and a man referred to as The Slasher who is hiding out in a hotel.

Megan and her dog Brigid search for Greg's body and for the unknown killers. Megan and her colleagues discuss possible theories of what could have possibly happened and why. Meanwhile, there has been a hailstorm in the city. Megan is investigating a contractor who is defrauding homeowners for much-needed roof repairs. Brigid is happy as she gets to chase and bring down several bad guys who are arrested by police. She is rewarded with tasty liver treats and a squeaky toy.

I believe many readers will enjoy Megan's plans for her upcoming wedding. I found that her search for the perfect wedding dress, wedding location, caterer, flowers, decorations, became a distraction from the crime and feelings of suspense. I usually fail to figure out twists and surprises, but I guessed correctly who committed the crime, and how their plan was carried out. These misgivings should be no deterrent to prospective readers. This book should be very popular with those who enjoy a cozy mystery, especially one featuring a clever and funny police dog.

'Bending the Paw' had it all for me! The mystery was one of the most intriguing I'd read in a long while. The point of view of an officer's K-9 partner (Brigit, the dog) was charming and quirky. This added an extra dimension to the story. There is romance, family drama, and even humor. Above all, it was strangely believable. I could relate. I highly recommend this and look forward to more.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

The appeal of Bending the Paw is that the story is told from several different points of view including Brigit, the K-9 partner of Megan Luz. Megan and Brigit are called to a scene that must have been a brutal murder, except there is no body. With the amount of blood lost, there is no way the victim could still be alive, but Megan continues to pursue the case along with her other caseload. The victim's wife says every loved her husband and they had no money issues or domestic problems. Someone didn't like Greg Olsen though based on the crime scene. An intriguing puzzle.

A good read as a stand-alone.
I found the development of the story a bit slow.
The plot is well designed and so are the characters.

Megan is a police officer in Fort Worth, Texas. Her partner is Brigit, a German Shepherd. Megan has aspirations of becoming a detective and is being mentored by Detective Jackson. Jackson has been called to the scene of a potential kidnapping and/or murder and invites Megan along. A wife arrives home to find her kitchen awash with blood and her husband is missing. Blood tests show that it's the husband's blood and his car, also full of blood, is eventually found, but there's no body. The couple seem to have had a great relationship so it's puzzling as to who would kill the husband and why.

A roofer is taking money from new clients but isn't doing the work. He is blaming the rest of his crew and a shortage of supplies and Megan isn't sure if he's telling the truth or if he's a scam artist.
This is the ninth in the Paw Enforcement series (I've read them all) but can work as a stand alone and you don't have to read the others to know what's going on (there is enough background provided).

I liked the writing style ... it was amusing at times. It is written in first person perspective from Megan's point of view and third person perspective from Brigit's point of view (which is funny) and the Slasher's perspective (the chapters alternate and are labeled).

I like Megan. She's gotten more confident and ambitious as time goes on. Brigit's funny and likeable and it's fun to get into her head. Though she is a trained police dog, she can be naughty when she wants to be (like figuring out how to open a cupboard that has been child-proofed and eating a box of Megan's crackers).

What’s not to like? A smart, intelligent female character partnered with a smart, intelligent dog, working together to solve crimes, with each installment better and better. I really enjoy reading about the dog Brigit, especially when we see the world through her eyes. Wonderful characters, interesting mystery....I highly recommend.

I have read several books by this author and have enjoyed them all. The adventures of Megan and Brigit continue in this cozy mystery. If you decide to check this series out I suggest you start with the first book in this series. The view point of Brigit is wonderfully written and the mysteries themselves quite intriguing. So, get a glass of wine or whatever and sit down for a (I'm sorry I have to say it) doggone good time! I received an e-book from NetGalley in return for an unbiased review.

Bending the Paw is the ninth book in the Paw Enforcement series by Diane Kelly. it worked fine as a standalone novel as it was the first I have read! During the story line you are given some background to help you out.

Patrol Officer Megan Luz gets a call from Detective Audrey Jackson to help with a bloody crime scene, so much for celebrating hers and Seths recent engagement. Megan and her k-9 partner, Brigit are off to help solve another crime. Upon arriving at the crime scene Megan finds out the kitchen is a blood bath with no body. Detective Audrey and Megan are working together to solve this mystery. Along comes another mystery with the Stormchaser Roofing Company with many of the neighbors in Mistletoe Heights not having their roofs replaced per their contracts. And Megan still has a wedding to think about.

I love this story! The best part is reading Brigit's point of view in this story along with the Slasher and Megan.. I wan't prepared for this but it was a great addition to the story. The characters were well developed, unpredictable, page-turner and action-packed!

Thanks to NetGallery for recommending this book to me and giving me a complimentary digital ARC of this novel. This is my honest review and the opinions are mine alone.

Officer Megan Luz and her trusted K-9 partner Brigit are back in the 9th Paw Enforcement mystery! I love this series. Megan is a feisty, intelligent main character....and Brigit is capable and loyal! They are a well matched team! The plots are always entertaining and a nice mix of background story, investigation and humor.

This time, Megan and Brigit are called to a bloody crime scene. Despite all the gore and an obvious hint at a murder, there is no body. The duo also investigate some home repair scammers.

I love the fact that this series doesn't just have the point of view of the main character. Brigit gets to make her opinions and thoughts known, as do the bad guys. I don't usually go for POV flip-flopping, but in this series it really works! This newest book in the series kept my attention from start to finish. The story develops at a nice pace, and there are several side plots woven in as well. Never a dull moment!

I enjoyed this newest book, and look forward to the next!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from St Martin's Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

Bending The paw was an exciting and intriguing book. A cozy mystery but yet not a cozy mystery. The details of the murder are shocking and gruesome and with various points of view it felt like crime fiction or a thriller but you have Bridgit the K9 police dog. Her point of view was not of her being able to talk but her thoughts which I found was so delightful and it was a cozy mystery definitely. Like the book has two identities.
I loved Megan,the police woman together with Bridgit they made a killer team. No pun intended. Bending the paw has a well thought out plot,the crimes and how The protagonist solved the crimes were very complex and interesting.

Thank you St.Martin Press and Netgally for this Advanced Reader copy.This was a honest review

Bending the Paw is the ninth installment in the Paw Enforcement series set in Fort Worth, Texas and featuring Police Officer Megan Luz and her K-9 Shepherd, Brigit. Megan and Brigit are called by Detective Audrey Jackson to assist at the scene of what appears to be a gruesome attack. When they arrive at the home of Shelby and Greg Olsen they discover a kitchen that looks like a real bloodbath has occurred - Megan has never seen so much blood and wonders how anyone could have survived such a vicious attack. The body of Greg Olsen is missing along with his car and Brigit's nose suggests that there was more than one attacker involved.

Megan finds herself juggling two separate cases: the disappearance of Greg Olsen and a scam being run on the citizens of Fort Worth by a fly by night roofing company. In addition to her investigations Megan is also preparing for her upcoming wedding to firefighter and bomb squad member, Seth.

This was the first book I've read in the series and while it definitely reads as a stand alone it would have helped to have just a little more background on the main characters. It was relatively easy to solve the main mystery within the first few chapters but that didn't detract from finishing the book. I will be going back to start the series from the beginning and enjoying more adventures with Megan and Brigit.

I received an advanced copy of Bending the Paw from NetGalley via St. Martin's Press. While not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.

Ms. Kelly's latest cozy murder mystery is a winner. She takes you into the minds of the K-9 Officer, Megan Luz, her canine partner Bridgit and the mind of the 'slasher'. We get treated to the officer's normal beat, her work with the detectives and her home life.
There are plenty of twists and turns and we get to see the officer run the information through her mind until she comes up with some off the wall questions of her own, but she manages to do what the detectives didn't...solve the case. I enjoyed this cozy immensely.
I requested and received a NetGalley Arc and offer my opinion freely.

This is a well written book that will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. I love how the author gives Brigit's point of view. This is a very enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more books in this series. Thank you St. Martin's Press via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC.
This is the first book in this series that I have read although I have read both books in her House Flipper series which I found very enjoyable.
This book was entertaining with a sharp-witted main character, Megan, who has a great canine partner to add to the fun.
There is a wide range of other characters including a hot firefighter boyfriend plus his bomb dog, Megan’s extended family, a Roller Derby roommate, and assorted detectives and police officers. Some are nice, some are not.
The main mystery was easy to figure out but still made for a good story. There was also a side story of a scam that involved a group of older adult victims who take justice into their own hands.
It was also nice to see that this book was set in DFW since I live nearby and could recognize numerous locations.

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of BENDING THE PAW (Book 9 of the Paw Enforcement Mysteries) by Diane Kelly in exchange for an honest review. Police officer Megan Luz and her K-9 partner Brigit often assist detectives in their investigations. In turn, those officers mentor Megan as she works toward becoming a detective. The current case is a bloody Valentine’s Day massacre. Blood coats the kitchen of a couple known to be very much in love, the wife is frantic, and the husband and his vehicle are missing. Megan and Brigit hunt for the husband, his car, and the killer. Meanwhile, recent storms have resulted in an influx of out-of-town home repair contractors and, unfortunately, contractor fraud. Megan also works a contractor fraud case and hunts the scam artist.

I enjoy Diane Kelly’s books. Though I haven’t read the prior books in this particular series, I had no trouble following the storyline or keeping the characters straight. I recommend the book to fans of the series and to fans of cozy mysteries featuring murder, con artists, law enforcement, K-9 officers, and family.

The majority of this book is told from the point of view of Megan Luz, a Fort Worth Police Department officer. There are also some parts told from the point of view of her K-9 partner Brigit, as well as an unknown person simply referred to as “The Slasher.” The first scene with Megan in the book also includes her firefighter boyfriend, Seth, in a sweet, romantic scene. Romance has to be put aside, however, when Megan and Brigit get the call to a horrendous crime scene. A woman comes home to find the kitchen covered in blood. Her husband isn’t home, but there is no body. The detectives on the case need Megan and Brigit’s help to trace whoever was at the scene of this horrible crime.

“Bending the Paw” is the ninth book in this series. I read the book immediately preceding this one, but not the others. I think the book works well as a standalone even if this is your first introduction to the series. The investigation stands on its own and Megan is an easy character to get to know. She is intelligent, dedicated, and ambitious. She wants to move up from officer to detective, but is putting in the hard work to get there. Her chapters give the reader a narrative of the investigation, as well as allowing us to get to know her, her co-workers, and Seth. I enjoy seeing how she and her canine partner work together to discover clues that help in the investigations, both the murder and a fraud case Brigit is assigned to.

If you’ve not read any of the prior books, you may be skeptical seeing there are chapters from Brigit the German Shepherd’s point of view. I am not a fan of whimsical talking animals that are in some cozies, but this is different. Brigit’s chapters are short and funny and describe what she is thinking during the investigation and give additional insight into the crime. Dog lovers will especially appreciate these chapters. Also interspersed throughout the book are short chapters from the point of view of “The Slasher” which give the reader more insight into the crime.

This book could be classified as a cozy mystery since it has both humor and romance mixed in with the murder and fraud cases. However, with all the details about the process of the investigation, I would call it a “light procedural.” There is more depth in the plot and the investigation than is found in many cozies. The humor and lighter moments, such as Brigit’s observations about her part in the investigation and about humans in general, lighten the mood and quicken the pace of the story. The way the story is told intrigued me from the beginning, and I remained invested in finding out more about the crime throughout the book. Clues to the solution are there, but it took awhile for me to begin to figure out the truth of the case. I like how things wrapped up and really enjoyed this book, which I would rate as 4.5 stars, rounding up to 5.

I received this ebook from NetGalley through the courtesy of St. Martin’s. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

his was a fantastic mystery told from three points of view: the detective, the culprit, and... the police dog! I loved the charm that the dog's POV brought to the mystery. Having dogs myself, I often wondered what they thought. I also loved the plot and how the police officer was portrayed. She was smart, capable and never stopped until the mystery was solved. I received an advanced reader's copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.