I believe I have read every book Valerie Burns (Kallie E. Benjamin) has written and I loved every one of them including the newest under her new pseudonym. Sniffing out Murder, the first book in the Bailey the Bloodhound Mystery series, has the warm support of friends and the complex mystery that Kallie E. Benjamin is known for under any name! With its outstanding plot and great characters, Sniffing out Murder is sure to be another winner for this awesome mystery author.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Berkley Publishing Group for allowing me to read an ARC of this wonderful cozy mystery. I look forward to spending more time with Bailey the Bloodhound and his family and friends.

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Writing as Kallie E. Benjamin, Valerie Burns (V.M. Burns) launches the Bailey the Bloodhound cozy mystery series. She’s carved out a little niche for herself in northern Indiana, southern Michigan, for settings. This series is set in Crosbyville, a city of 30,000 in northwestern Indiana.

Priscilla Cummings’ first children’s book based on her bloodhound, Bailey, is a bestseller, and she’s just about to quit her job as a teacher and buy a house in Crosbyville. First, she has one last parent-teacher conference that she’s dreading. Whitney Kelley was the ultimate mean girl in high school, and she hasn’t changed. But, she and her husband, Joe, have taken in their niece, and she’s not doing well in school. Of course, Whitney and Joe are upset, and Whitney blows up.

Whitney even causes a scene in the Blue Plate Diner Cafe, owned by Priscilla’s Aunt Agatha. As president of the school board, she intends to cut arts and special programs, including Priscilla’s favorite pet-assisted reading program. Then, she deliberately steps on Bailey’s tail in front of the new police chief so she can claim the dog attacked her. But, Agatha throws her out of the cafe before it gets worse.

Now, Priscilla has had two run-ins with Whitney Kelley. But, it’s Bailey who makes the problem worse. When Priscilla walks him in the park early the next morning, Bailey digs up Whitney’s body. It’s easy to see why Whitney’s sister Chelsea would accuse Priscilla of killing her. Fortunately, Police Chief Gilbert Morgan isn’t quite so fast to arrest Priscilla.

As Priscilla digs around to find the truth about Whitney, she uncovers stories of cheating, affairs, and possibly blackmail. It seems others may have more reasons to kill Whitney Kelley than Priscilla does. Then, another body is found.

Benjamin’s new series is off to a solid start. There’s a charming cast of characters, including Bailey. As a children’s author, Priscilla is able to incorporate The Adventures of Bailey the Bloodhound, Pet Detective, into her own adventures. The first in a cozy series is often an introduction with the protagonist as a suspect. For future mysteries, we can dig into the stories of other characters. I’m looking forward to this series. Sniffing Out Murder is a fun kickoff.

In this fast-paced and well-written drama, the author did a great job in staging this whodunit with a wickedly solid plot, a great cast of characters, an abundance of suspects, clues sprinkled throughout and a lovable and adorable sidekick. The backstory involving Whitney and the people whose path she crossed gave us insight into why these people were considered suspects. As the story moved forward, I had my pick of who the murderer was, but then the author changed direction all to enhance my reading pleasure. I do like that Pris shares whatever she uncovers with the police. With a few strategically placed twists, it was fun watching this all play out with a few characters having pivotal roles in the apprehension of the killer. Boasting an eclectic and diverse cast of characters, engaging dialogue and a small-town atmosphere, this was a pleasantly appealing tale and I look forward to more adventures with Pris and her friends and I do love the budding romance and can’t wait to see that blossom.

This is the first book I have read by this author. I really enjoyed it. The characters are well written with an interesting mystery. I am looking forward to the next book.

So many appealing elements here -- a young teacher turned children's book author, the world's most lovable dog, a small town Indiana setting, and plenty of intrigue -- all add up to a great cozy mystery, which I hope becomes a long-lived series. I look forward to recommending this title, especially to readers who like books by Jenn McKinlay, Joanna Fluke, and Lorna Barrett.

I liked the premise of the book a lot, but I found it really slow and the characters cartoonish. I kept putting it down and doing something else and returning later. I didn't care who killed Whitney. I thought I knew, then I changed my mind. I thought I was right the second time but there was a last minute twist I had only just put together. The body count was a little high for me and the villain too chilling for such a fluffy mystery. I also thought it was sad/darkish to have so many children with dead parents!

The cozy part comes in the form of small town charm in Indiana. The town is in Amish country but there's a variety of different types of people here. No one is judgmental about the others' lifestyles. There is a diverse array of people in this town. Both Pris and her BFF are mixed and there are other characters of color and members of the LGBTQ+ community. Pris's aunt runs the local diner and makes the best fried chicken in the world. Her pies sound yummy and she taught Pris how to cook. I was surprised and not too happy to read a reference to COVID, just in passing (post-COVID weight) but it jarred me and took me out of the idyllic cozy world. Bailey the Bloodhound is adorable! He's goofy at times but fiercely loyal to those who love him. He gives his love and loyalty in return but won't hesitate to protect his pack. I love that he's a working scent hound and does demonstrations at the library. He's a certified therapy pet and kids can practice reading to him. It's so sweet how Hannah comes out of her shell when she reads to Bailey.

Pris is an OK character. She's a great dog mom to Bailey, even if he doesn't always obey. I like the sound of her picture book and I would enjoy reading it. Pris is a little nosy, she has a teacher brain which must be similar to a librarian brain because she has to know everything. Like most cozy heroines, she gets nosy and starts sleuthing on her own. She doesn't get too nosy though and tries to share her news with the police and ask for advice. When she gets into trouble, it's not her fault. I don't like kids but I like how Pris nurtured and helped the two young girls in her care. . I think she's a great teacher and should stick with it. Kids need teachers like her who will stand up for them and help them to succeed. Unfortunately, with more and more parents like Whitney, teachers like Pris are quitting in droves because they can't win. The catalyst for suspecting Pris hits too close to real life right now.

Chief of Police Gilbert Morgan is a bit of a stick in the mud. He's new in town, from the big city and isn't used to small town ways. He's a widower with a small daughter, Hannah, who he adores. He's not a very good father though. He tries but his job is demanding and all Hannah wants is to be a family and spend time together. Maybe he should think about a new profession? He's ex-military and very by the book. Sparks fly between Gilbert and Pris and not always in a good way. He has a suspicious mind when it's obviously stupid to suspect Pris! Why would anyone kill someone and then go through the trouble of burying the body, getting their dog to dig it up and call it in? Gilbert also feels that he has to be impartial and can't be in a relationship with Pris or ANYONE from the town. Way to go about finding a new partner and mom for Hannah! Hannah is very precocious for 8. At first she's shy and reserved, being new in town. She's quiet and withdrawn at home too, no doubt missing her mom AND her often absent dad. She latches on to Bailey and he provides her with love, attention and the friendships she craves- even if most of those friends are adults. I know ZERO tweens who would enjoy watching videos of a 1970s show on YouTube. Schoolhouse Rock may have been cool back in the day but my nieces and nephews would laugh and scream at me if I chose to torture them like that. I've heard of it but I don't think I've seen it. It would have been dated and scream worthy in my day too.

Aunt Agatha raised Pris. She loves her niece and stands by Pris no matter what. She chooses family over business. I admire that. I don't like that Aunt Agatha comes rushing over with emotional guilt when Pris doesn't share news (gossip) with her or how she worries about Pris. The small town gossip grapevine runs through her diner and she apparently listens as avidly as everyone else. Aunt Agatha is good with Hannah but does spoil the girl. She is sort of Hannah's surrogate grandmother for now.

Pris's best friend Marcie, gorgeous, biracial Black and Asian, and artistic, is the complete opposite of Pris. Yet they get along well. Marcie is light and optimism. She's fun and pushes Pris to be a little more lively and less introverted. Marcie is also a teacher and good with kids, even the difficult ones.

Whitney Kelley was a grown up mean girl. She was a two-dimensional cardboard villain. Selfish, self-absorbed and into money and power, Whitney was so unlikable I didn't care who killed it. How can one person control the school board? What skeletons do they have in their closets she wants to rattle and who cares? She was a terrible wife and mother. She couldn't even get Clarice's name right! My heart breaks for Clarice. What court in their right minds would award custody to Whitney, who can't even remember the child's name? Whitney doesn't know or care what's best for Clarice! She only cares about money and power. What happens to her if Joe is convicted of murdering Whitney or if he doesn't want her, not being a blood relative. Will Chelsea be a better mom? Two new moms in such a short amount of time plus what happens in the end is enough to make this child "not ok"! She'll need some help healing from all that trauma.

Suspects include Lucas Harrison, the slimy realtor Pris and friends used to refer to as "octopus" in school. He's smarmy and doesn't respect women. Rumor has it he was having an affair with Whitney. DUH! I saw that coming a mile away and I put him at the top of my suspect list. It was either the lover or the husband. Joe Kelley is no prize either. The former high school heartthrob, I don't think his ego has been deflated. Whitney wanted him, Whitney got him and they're the ultimate power couple. Greed is good in their world. He seems a little more easy going than Whitney though, at least as far as Pris is concerned but he thinks he can charm Pris into agreeing to pass Clarice to the next grade. Yeah right! Rumor has it, he wasn't faithful to his marriage vows. DUH! These two were made for each other but that doesn't mean they have a happy marriage. He's a newly elected state senator and throws around his weight when he wants to. They're both horrid people.

The other top suspect in my mind, coming in at number 3, is Chelsea, Whitney's sister. Sure she claims to be angry and outraged over her sister's murder but she sure is quick to point the finger at Pris. A little too quick if you ask me. Chelsea is just as mean girl as her sister but not quite so selfish. She seems to have a heart whereas Whitney did not. For some reason though, Chelsea hates Pris and it goes beyond the murder. I think she is protesting too much.

Betty Wilson of The Big Tease, a vintage style hair salon, is a brassy, buxom blond. She loathed Whitney and was having an affair with Joe! Betty is loud and somewhat obnoxious and believes Pris did her a favor in killing Whitney, in spite of Pris's protests. Yet Betty knows all her customers by name, she has a good instinct for style and is generous to those she likes. I don't believe she wouldn't lie for Joe and make him lie for her. I hope the police checked those alibis because she had every reason to want Whitney dead.

Amelia Cooper Lawson, a descendant of the town founding family, is on the school board with Whitney. Amelia Cooper Lawson has personally funded the arts and language programs at the schools and Whitney believes that money would be better spent on math and science. Amelia Cooper Lawson sold her carriage house to Pris but left behind boxes of personal mementos and maybe more. She doesn't appear on page in a speaking part until late in the book. Pris fears the rest of the school board will be murdered and worries for Amelia Cooper Lawson but I'm not so sure she's the victim here. She certainly has a strong motive for removing Whitney!

Pitbull, aka Mark Alexander, is a potential love interest for Pris. He's an undercover cop who has enemies in the big city. He's come to this small town to work and get away from the danger. Mark is a military brother of Chief Morgan and the two seem to both have a thing for Pris. The way they act around her is like two dogs with one bone. Is is Pris or is it more than that?

Tabby, a stylist at Betty's salon, is a wizard with Black hair. She is a lot of fun even if she likes to gossip. She doesn't reveal anything that isn't common knowledge. I love how devoted she is to her partner, Carla. Carla is more sensible and less vivacious than Tabby but they make it work. Their romance is very sweet and inspirational. I think they will both be new friends for Pris.

I'm glad I gave it a chance but I won't be continuing with the series. While I didn't love this story, that doesn't mean I wouldn't recommend it. You don't have to take my word for it! Not every book is for every reader or every reader for every book.

A delightful debut with a light, interesting mystery; lots of humor; great characters; and Bailey—a lovable, huggable, therapy dog. Relax, and enjoy this story!

Bailey, the Bloodhound, is a multi-tasking dog. It’s in his genes. He’s also the star of a children’s book series written by his owner, Priscilla Cummings; a retiring teacher who hopes to become a full-time writer. They live in the quaint, old-fashioned town of Crosbyville, IN. When a parent-teacher conference gets heated and the mother gets ugly, she threatens to cut out the dog reading program Bailey participates in. The Police Chief, Gilbert Morgan and his daughter, Hannah, witness Whitney’s bad temper. Guess who Bailey digs up in a flower bed the next morning?

This awesome story moves swiftly due to short chapters and a tight plot. There’s humor galore which I always enjoy in a cozy mystery. Pris sets out to find Whitney’s killer so her family won’t ruin her life, Bailey’s, and the Police Chief and his daughter’s lives, thus targeting herself in the killer’s eyes.

As the suspect list grows; some people appear more suspicious than others. I had my eye on a certain character that I thought seemed around a lot for no good reason. This person is the killer. When a second murder occurs, Chief Morgan orders officers to patrol Priscilla’s house. Gilbert and Pris are attracted to each other, and Bailey loves Gilbert and Hannah. The ending scene is great!

I’m looking forward to the next story and learning more about the entwining lives of these likeable new characters and to seeing what Bailey, the Bloodhound, sniffs out next! I highly recommend this cozy mystery to clean mystery lovers, dog lovers, small-town lovers, and those readers who enjoy humor throughout their mysteries.

I honestly reviewed an un-edited, digital ARC provided by NetGalley and Berkley. All opinions are my own.

new-series, first-in-series, Indiana, small-town, writers, bloodhound, therapy-dog, teacher, unpleasant-neighbors, bullies, situational-humor, verbal-humor, cozy-mystery, local-law-enforcement, widower, amateur-sleuth, investigators, author, friends, friendship, family*****

Lovely new series whose main characters are a bloodhound who majors in pet assisted reading programs and his person/librarian who has added children's book author to her resume.
The publisher's blurb is great so no need to repeat it or do the spoiler thing. I love the characters, humor, small town interactions, and simply the whole book. The mystery is well done with many surprises and an astounding twist at the end.
I requested and received an EARC from Berkley Publishing group via NetGalley. Thank you!

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of SNIFFING OUT MURDER (Book 1 of the Bailey the Bloodhound Mysteries) by Kallie E. Benjamin in exchange for an honest review. After Priscilla’s first children’s book became a best-seller, she decided to resign her teaching position. If only Priscilla didn’t have writer’s block, she wouldn’t be stressing out about affording the house she just made plans to buy, the groceries she had her doggy sidekick, Bailey, will need to eat, and paying all the other bills and expenses necessary to life. After one last fraught parent-teacher conference, Pris thinks dealing with her students and their parents is a thing of the past, but one of the nastier parents picks a public fight with Pris and her pup in front of the new sheriff, and Pris is really embarrassed. When a morning walk through the park leads Bailey to uncover that parent’s body in the begonia bed, Pris is now a suspect. Can Pris and Bailey sniff out the real killer before Pris is sent off to the kennel?

I liked this book. I thought it was a great start to a new series. I look forward to future books by this author. I recommend this book to fans of cozy murder mysteries featuring stressed-out authors, bloodhound super sniffers, and adult women who are too old to still be acting like teenaged mean girls.

#SniffingOutMurder #NetGalley