Luke Gracias constructs a high-stakes thriller in "Dogboy v Catfish" that thrives on intrigue and suspense. The novel's strength lies in its ability to intricately weave a complex narrative web, blurring the lines between deception, loyalty, and survival. Gracias crafts compelling characters whose motivations and actions constantly challenge the reader's assumptions, adding depth to an already riveting plot.

The pacing is relentless, propelling the story forward with a sense of urgency that captivates readers. The exploration of the criminal underworld and its connections to the central characters creates a gripping atmosphere of suspense and danger.

Catfish and Dogboy emerge as multifaceted protagonists, each harbouring secrets and vulnerabilities that humanize them despite their morally ambiguous actions. The dynamics between these characters and their relentless pursuit of conflicting goals create a tension-filled narrative that never loses momentum.

Gracias skillfully navigates the twists and turns of the plot, building anticipation and suspense with each chapter. "Dogboy v Catfish" is a rollercoaster ride of suspense and mystery, leaving readers guessing until the very end. Luke Gracias delivers a thrilling tale that keeps the heart racing and the mind guessing, cementing his place in the realm of gripping thrillers.

Dog boy v Catfish
Luke Gracie’s
2023
5 Stars



Thank you NetGalley and Publisher Authors Upfront for my copy of Dogboy v Catfish by Luke Gracias. I have not received any rewards or compensation for this review and therefore all views and opinions are of my own, the reviewer.

In summary: An Australian mystery set in Victoria, Australia. Where did Dogboy a.k.a. Lyndsey Kramer disappear to?

First let me say, what an excellent story!
Deeply engaging, well paced and satisfying ending. All the elements of a great book right there.

I tend to agree with other reviews that suggest the book comes across as a documentary, the story in my opinion is written in such away that it feels like you’re reading a true crime story, however it is merely a work of fiction. (I had to look up spoilers to check). I think this style of writing is the key to the success of the story.

The characters are well constructed and developed. I enjoyed following Katherine’s duplicity and villainy and her demise, lawyers Micheal and Freya and how they were able to thwart Katherine and the effort Inspector Green and Finlay for their sleuthing to put some big names in crime away by untangling the intricate web, or the blue, green red snakes. Lyndsey takes the cake on his methods of outsmarting his wife.

Gracias covers a lot of real world issues such as suicide, domestic violence (financial abuse, gaslighting for example). All of these things were greatly woven in to the story.

I was unsure about this book but I was totally blown away by what I read. I wanted to know so much more about dogboy and I hope there is a second book! The book kept me absolutely gripped from start to finish and I was thinking about it when I wasnt reading. Definitely one to add to the to be read pile!

Thank you netgalley for providing me with a free copy of the book for an unbiased review.

Dog Boy and Catfish" unveils the tumultuous tale of Lindsay and Katherine, an unconventional married couple facing the strains of a faltering union. Lindsay, a kind and highly successful entrepreneur, mysteriously disappears in Melbourne, Australia, drawing widespread attention to his enigmatic vanishing act.

Meanwhile, Katherine, a cunning and manipulative ex-beauty queen, runs a high-end boutique specializing in luxury goods. As the detectives assigned to Lindsay's missing persons case delve into the investigation, they uncover a startling connection between Katherine's clientele and local criminals engaged in drug trade, gunrunning, and money laundering.

The question arises: is Lindsay's disappearance merely a coincidence, or does it intertwine with the shadowy world of criminal enterprises orchestrated by Katherine's clients? The narrative weaves a web of suspense and intrigue as the characters navigate through a complex plot where secrets, crime, and a troubled marriage converge, leaving readers eager to uncover the truth.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

I finished but didn't like this book particularly. Although it had a few interesting plot lines the dispassionate style of writing was not to my taste at all. It read like a police report or witness statement - entirely factual, unemotional and very linear. There were no flashbacks and characters were rather unengaging with very little backstory. The dialogue was appalling - the author never used contractions. People simply do not talk in that way - e.g. "I am a lesbian" followed by "I did not know that" (said her best friend from university). Unrealistic!

The book had an excellent start (a scene involving Dogboy and his strange ability) but he largely disappeared thereafter, leaving potentially the most interesting character in the book as simply someone other people talked about.

There was a great deal of exposition about the drugs / counterfeit goods / money laundering trades but I confess I found it rather complex and quite boring. At the end, a revelation was made about one major female character which made absolutely no sense whatever, and that annoyed me as there had been no prior indication. Also, there was something about a porn film which seemed to have been added towards the end for humour, but it just felt silly and awkward to me. Obviously, other have different views.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review this book.

I enjoyed this unusual thriller with its highly complicated plot although I found the dialogue less than convincing.
The story is very convoluted and the actions of the "baddie", Catfish, stretch the bounds of credibility. There was sufficient merit for me to know how the plot would work through to a conclusion.

Dogboy v Catfish by Luke Gracias is billed as a mystery-thriller. It was a quick, somewhat fun read, but lacking depth for my tastes.

When a woman knows the date she’ll file for divorce on her wedding day, there can be no good intentions. When the husband goes missing just before the planned divorce date, you wonder if there was foul-play or if he somehow got wise to her schemes.

This novel has a detached, 3rd person narration, as we are following the police investigators and others in the story more than our main characters. We are mostly told about them and about what they have done and speculations on their actions. This is somewhat limiting, and makes most of the characters come across as one-dimensional.

Additionally, I probably would not have read it if I had realized it centered around counterfeit designer goods. After reading Counterfeit by Kirstin Chen last year, I’ve had my fill on the topic. Others might find this more interesting than I do, though!

I did enjoy the analogy of The Endless Knot. Overall, the plot is interesting, and the ending was good, but the middle part was lacking depth. Due to the shallow characters, there wasn’t much of an emotional investment in the story, so it didn’t really matter to me how it ended or who “won.”

⭐⭐
Rating: 2 out of 5.
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for an advance copy in exchange for sharing my opinions. All opinions in this review are my own.

Firstly thanks to Luke Gracias for the invitation to read this book.
It is very much a "now" book of the times detailing modern crimes that i was not even aware of involving the "resale" of RFID and recycling of "designer trash". This coupled with money laundering and drug dealing makes for a compelling read, throw into the mix a missing person and the dynamic of a wife who married for money and a husband who married after falling for her mind.
This rollercoaster is set in Australia with a brief sojourn to Sintra in Portugal, which is a beautiful part of the country.
Without giving too much away you will have a vested interest as to whether or not Dogboy is alive and kicking ...

Dogboy v Catfish is a suspenseful thriller! I was intrigued from cover to cover. Speaking of the cover, I now see it with so much meaning and I especially liked the title of the chapters. Catherine and Lyndsey were only married a short time before he disappeared. He is a successful tech guy, and she operates her own boutique selling designer wares. He loves her, but she loves his money and possessions. The search for the missing man, is a treck from Australia to Bangkok, designer trash, drugs, and murder. A worthwhile read!

Many thanks to Luke Gracias, NetGalley and the publisher!

DOGBOY VS CATFISH

A scheming wife.
A rich husband with a mysterious connection with dogs.
A missing person.
Designer merchandise.
Smuggling.
Drugs and money laundering.
Set in Australia.
This is really good.

Fast paced and clear cut on the good guys and the bad guys, this is a fun police procedural with a crime syndicate just waiting to be be busted. I would like to thank NetGalley, Luke Gracias, and AuthorsUpFront Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I really like this well developed plot. It’s full of twists and turns. There are a lot of intriguing questions to answer and the characters are very interesting. Lots of drama that kept me riveted to the story. It’s an excellent mystery.

4 bright stars for a complicated mystery that starts out with a flashback to demonstrate that Lindsay Kramer has an extraordinary ability to connect with dogs. The second chapter is 16 years later, when Katherine Kelly Fisher decides to hire a divorce attorney renowned for getting women excellent divorce settlements. Katherine Fisher was a Miss Australia finalist in 2001, 14 years before. She is now married to Lindsay Kramer, who was called Dogboy by college friends. Katherine Fisher had become famous for an advertising campaign for Catfish wines and now has an online following under the name Catfish.
In chapter 3 the reader learns that Lindsay Kramer has disappeared. Australian law is heavily weighted in favor of women. The blurb states that Catfish can get 50% of their assets after 18 months of marriage. But the text says that she would get 66% of everything. See quote, conversation between 2 lawyers:
"Think about it. From the settlement, Katherine would get about 66% of everything they both owned."
One more quote about Catfish and Dogboy: "A story about the most beautiful catfish, with the most cunning and calculating of minds, who sought out a hopeless romantic and bedazzled him with her charm."
What follows is is an unraveling of Katherine Fisher's carefully laid plans. I read this page turner in 2 days.
Thank You Luke Gracias for sending me this eBook through NetGalley.

Gracias has delivered a fast paced and deliciously wicked tale. The characters are well rounded and come across as believable, whether you love them or hate them. This provocative, somewhat dark and twisted story grabs you from the first page and keeps you guessing until the very end! It was so captivating and exciting that I simply couldn't put it down.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author who provided me with a copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Interesting look at high fashion counterfeits. A bit contrived at times. I read it because of the Australian location but this book could have been set elsewhere. The mystery was interesting and a fast read.

I suspect every reader has come across a book they decide to read based solely on only one factor like, oh, the cover art but don’t really expect too much. Only when you read it, it’s like, wow, this was amazing. For me, Dogboy v Catfish was one of those books and it was the title that caught my attention but, once started I was completely sucked into the story and devoured it in one sitting.

The story is set in Australia where wealthy businessman, Lindsay Kramer, aka Dogboy due to his seeming uncanny ability to communicate with dogs, had married Katherine ‘Catfish’ Fisher, a former Miss Australia and present on-line influencer and boutique owner. Lindsay has alway been awkward around women so can’t believe his luck. As it turns out, he shouldn't have. Under Australian law, as long as a marriage lasts eighteen months, the wife can claim two-thirds of the marital assets. Just before the eighteen month mark, she seeks out a lawyer known for being tough in divorce cases, to apply for a separation. Thing is, the lawyer went to uni with Kramer and immediately suspects something is off. But soon after, Catfish calls off the separation because Kramer has gone missing and now, never mind two-thirds, she wants it all.

Dogboy v Catfish by Luke Gracias is one twisty, absolutely addicting page turner and I loved it. Every time I thought I had it figured out, it threw in one more surprise turn. If you’re looking for a mystery full of great characters, plenty of red herrings and a complex plot that’ll keep you glued to the page, this might just be what you’re looking for.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review

Interesting tale of greed and counterfeit goods in Australia. Title makes it sound like a young adult book but it's quite a complicated adult tale of a missing and quite mysterious man.

Firstly, thank you Luke Gracias and Netgalley for this ArC of Dogboy V Catfish.

This is my first book from Luke and I wasn't disappointed, I felt that Katherine and Lindsey were well fleshed out and felt human, with faults and flaws that felt realistic. The story line was very well written. I really liked the twists and turns which made me question whether Lindsey was either Dead or alive! I kept swapping and I like that about a book that keeps me guessing. Being set in Australia, it's interesting how their laws work which again the author explains in wonderful language. The pay off to the end of the book is great and well delivered.

Im going to be looking out for more books from Luke!

When I first saw the title of this book, I thought it must be for kids, as the title was reminiscent of an old 2000's movie (Sharkboy and Lavagirl anyone?), but once I read the description it quickly became clear that this was very much an adult story. The premise was intriguing, and the cleverness of the names was clearly a draw (way to grab an audience!) so I sallied forth into their world.

I wish I could've enjoyed it more, but the writing kept me at a constant distance. The dialogue was extremely stilted, and the story was all tell, tell, tell. There were points where it felt like reading a report rather than being engaged in a story. It also came across with vague misogynistic overtones which were somewhat offputting. I think it was a good plot that just wasn't realized well enough for my tastes.

My thanks to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

There's a difference between a book being bad and a book being not my thing. Therefore, I'd like to preface this by saying there's a good chance that this book just wasn't my thing. But let me separate my feedback into objective, and subjective feed back.

Objective Good Feedback: This book was obviously very well researched. The author clearly put a great deal of time into representing the Australian criminal underworld believably, if not entirely true to form (I say believably because I am not qualified to judge its accuracy). The author has a meticulous attention to detail that makes this book feel very methodical. The book also has an intricate plot for a book of its length. The author also exhibits a large vocabulary and some interesting knowledge of idioms and terms. His theme is quite clearly conveyed.

Subjective good feedback: I like that the author is daring and focused in his approach to themes, regardless of my agreement with them. I also think he attempted to establish levity through quiet levels of absurdity, which was interesting. The influencer angle was also fun to read. I love books that pay attention to chapter titles, so that was nice. Characters are clear and easy to separate.

Objective negative feedback: This book seems poorly edited. There were numerous typos and errors--"except" instead of expect in Chapter 11, and "focussed" instead of focused exactly seven times: once in Chapter 6, once in Chapter 7, three times in Chapter 26, and twice in Chapter 34. While I acknowledge that this is a rare Austronesian variety/slang spelling, I'm not sure it's appropriate for prose in a serious work. In addition, chapters often ended extremely abruptly, which made the book feel rather choppy and disconnected. Dialogue was often unnatural and stilted, and narrative could be too. Example: "Freya gave Michael a platonic hug on the cheek" from Chapter 4 felt very stilted and robotic.

Subjective feedback: Every sentence that contained an expletive (and there were quite a few superfluous ones) was punctuated with an exclamation mark. It may be a stylistic preference, but I found that made them less impactful, somehow, especially when the expletives did not stand alone. I also wasn't fond of the unexplained relationship certain characters have with dogs. It felt like an element that was added fairly quickly to make the title make sense. I also found that even though the book was packed with action, I struggled to get through several of the scenes/connect with the way it was written. The writing style is a lot of telling and little showing which isn't my personal preference. Finally, I disliked the way almost every female character in the book was portrayed. They were either presented as evil vixens (Kath and sometimes Freya), alarmingly vapid (Sabina's ineptitude in Bangkok comes to mind), or sexual objects (Kath again. Why was her lawyer looking at her bosom? That was ew). Sometimes all three at once (again Kath). The author seemed to rely upon underscoring women to make his point about male mental health. (Side note: male mental health is an important topic, and it's important for men and women to write about. I just think it can be done without relying on the "wives make their husbands suicidal!" trope.)

This book was around three stars for me. I'm trying to rate it objectively, and acknowledge the author's efforts, although it wasn't my thing. The ending, I will say, was satisfying, and I will applaud the author for the amount of research he obviously did! Would recommend to anyone that wishes to explore the criminal underworld in an unconventional/unique fashion.

I loved this book. I liked the characters from the very first page - Dogboy and his friends were great and it was very easy to dislike Catfish, moreso as the story progressed. The book was teally well written and full of twists and turns. Can't wait to read more from this author.