Loved this story revealing the dark secrets behind the traffic in designer goods. The absent Lindsay was by definition a shadowy character with a trace of melancholy who had everything material but not true love in his life. His effect on all dogs he met was an interesting characteristic, one with which I can identify. Dogs are in my opinion, very good judges of character. The police operation was well portrayed and held. my interest. I found the complete reversal in Katherine a little hard to believe but all in all a good read,

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

I was expecting more of a kids book but totally was blown away and loved it!!!!


I was so intrigued abd excited tk learn about dogboy and I hope there is a second book and a whole series ! The book kept me wanting to keep reading

Thank you NetGalley for letting me read and review

The title threw me off completely and I was almost expecting a kids story. Lots of shady characters, drama, crime. Enjoyable story, I ended up wondering why I didn’t start reading it sooner. Recommended

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.