Overall an enjoyable read, but it could have been shorter. I enjoyed the swapping of perspectives, but everyone was a bit too wishy washy. The mystery, or mysteries, were fun and not too difficult to solve, but with a small twist.

It took me a couple of chapters to become used to the fact the MC and the Corgi could actually talk together. However, the dog was still dog like. Lots of possibilities of who the murderer was and the mystery kept me guessing. I think this will be a very interesting series. I look forward to becoming more familiar with the town.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGallley for my eARC in exchange for an honest reveiw.

cosy-mystery, Cornwall, small-business, small-town, amateur-sleuth, journalist, law-enforcement, murder-investigation, greed, family-dynamics, friendship

Finally having had enough of all the condescension in working high finance in London, Emma chucks it all and moves to a well-remembered village in Cornwall to open a Tea Shop. Everyone I know who has pets talks to them like a constant beloved friend, but what makes this story different is that Oliver, a "noble corgi warrior", verbally interacts with her from his own perspective. Sort of like a high class Chet and Bernie. It's a sure thing that the victim will be the vindictive nasty old woman who owns half the village, but whodunnit is a real poser. Add in a disgraced tabloid journalist, a fox, a lot of nice people, a legend of murder, and a whole cast of suspects it's clear that what is needed is a really good nose. Of course I loved it!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley. Thank you!

This review appeared in the October 15, 2010 issue of Booklist

To Fetch a Felon, the first of the Chatty Corgi mystery series, features all the elements of a good cozy. There’s a quaint Cornish village where Emma Reed, the main character, plans to open a tea shop. Emma has an unusual talent. She can understand what her Corgi dog, Oliver, says.

In Trevena, like most small English towns, there is gossip and gardens aplenty as well as a local legend about the strange disappearance of Nicholas Penhallow, one of the lesser-liked residents who owned the town’s bakery that was converted into the tea shop that Emma wishes to purchase. Rumor has it that Penhallow’s wife killed him and burned his body in the bakery oven.

When Emma comes to town and discovers the dead body of Victoria Roberts, the woman who was interfering with her purchase of the tea shop, Oliver lends a paw sniffing out the truth about the suspects.
This was a charming mystery with an interesting cast of characters, any of whom could’ve been the culprit. There was the down-on-his-luck and money nephew; the best friend with a secret; the real estate agent in conflict with Victoria over properties; and the journalist seeking the true story about Penhallow.

This book is highly recommended to readers who enjoy English cozies featuring pets.

Emma Reed has left London and the grind and frustration of 25 years in the financial sector to start a second career. She has fond memories of family summer vacations in the village of Trevena, on the Cornwall coast and a tea shop in particular. After researching, she decides she can afford to move there and set up a bake shop. Her and her brown and white Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Oliver, meet a rather crabby woman on their first day, Victoria Roberts, a woman Emma realizes shortly afterwards is the owner of the building she wants to rent. While waiting for her cottage rental paperwork to go through, she stays at a bed and breakfast and meets various members around the village. Then when Emma takes a peace offering of scones to Ms. Roberts she finds her dead. Oliver, who thinks of himself as a "noble corgi warrior" can talk to Emma and tries to protect her and help solve the murder. There is much humor here and if you are a dog lover this story is even more enjoyable. There are several charming characters and the backstory of a previous disappearance creates an extra mystery. Looking forward to the next book.