Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra

A Suspicious Breed is the sixth book in Jackie Layton’s A Low Country Dog Walker Mystery series. Andi Grace (the main protagonist and amateur sleuth) is getting ready for her wedding and honeymoon but trouble is afoot! She has just learned that her vet (Doc Hewitt) may have been roped into a potential fundraising scam … and knowing Doc Hewitt, Andi knows he is innocent. So now, to prove it all the while, she is putting the finishing touches in place for her wedding day (a mere week away). Her wedding photographer and good friend (Zarina Mills) may have some first-hand knowledge of this scam but is found dead before parting with any of that information. So now Andi must find the killer and figure out the details of the scam to help Doc Hewitt! And from the book’s intro – there are also a couple more issues to be solved…a dodgy record producer pressuring a friend’s young daughter and lest we forget – a disorganized dog breeding operation that may be endangering animals.

To begin with, it felt like there was just too many storylines that needed to be addressed. Maybe it is just me, but I think one or two less issues would have helped focus the storylines a bit more. I do contend that some of the confusion is definitely on me as I am entering the series at this newest addition. With more background of the main characters, I might not have felt so overwhelmed and confused.

I did enjoy how loving and attentive Andi was with her four-legged creatures. She definitely is a caring protagonist – both to animals and humans alike. She also had much fortitude to handle all of these days before her wedding. And speaking of wedding – she and her groom were so amenable to whatever would work for the second couple also getting married. Wow – that was so generous. As such, I may well go back and start the series from the beginning so that there is a chance to enjoy this addition to the series.

I must say – I loved the cover art. That in itself is a true winner for drawing in this reader to the story!

If you enjoy cozy mystery stories with lots of dogs and their amenable humans, a bit of intrigue and a murder to solve along with a number of issues to solve, then I suggest picking up a copy of A Suspicious Breed by Jackie Layton.

This time around, Andie Grace seems to have bitten off more than she could chew. But she didn’t let up on her investigation. It was an entertaining afternoon tea read, not as exciting as I would have liked, but it was alright.

A Suspicious Breed
Low Country Dog Walker Mystery
Jackie Layton
5 Stars

Synopsis:

Low Country dog walker Andi Grace Scott is about to get married, but she’ll have to get a killer to say “I did it” before she can say “I do” . . .

With her wedding fast approaching and her plans to open a dog shelter underway, Andi Grace can barely find a free moment. Then she learns that her favorite local vet may have been roped into a crooked fundraising scheme meant to help animals, and worse still, her wedding photographer—a good friend who may have had firsthand knowledge of the scheme—is murdered. Determined to find justice for the victim and root out whoever is behind the scam, Andi Grace puts her nose to the ground to sniff out the clues.

No sooner does she begin compiling a list of suspects than she uncovers an unscrupulous music producer pressuring a friend’s talented daughter, and a haphazard dog breeding operation that may be endangering animals. With so many unsavory characters cropping up at every turn, Andi Grace enlists the help of some equally clever friends to ensnare them. But just as she finds the evidence that ties everything together, the culprit finds it’s time to kill her before she can tie the knot . . .

Praise for the Books of Jackie Layton:

“Kept me guessing till the end. Andi Grace is an excellent amateur sleuth . . . and Caught and Collared is an engrossing and enjoyable cozy mystery.” —The Book Decoder, Best Books of 2022

“Andi Grace is adorable, resilient, and has a doggedly curious need to solve a murder. A pleasure to read.” —C. Hope Clark, award-winning author of Edisto Tidings

“Completely charming—and exactly what a cozy mystery should be. Amateur sleuth (and dog whisperer) Andi Grace Scott is wonderfully endearing, and her devotion to her pooches—and to justice—will have you rooting for her from the absolutely irresistible page one. Bow wow—What a terrific debut!” —Hank Phillippi Ryan, nationally best-selling and award-winning author of The Murder List


About the Author:

Former Kentuckian Jackie Layton loves her new life in the Low Country. She enjoys time on the beach, despite one vacation that ended with cracked ribs from riding her boogie board with the kids and another trip that ended with a fish hook in her foot and a trip to the emergency room. There’s nothing like time at the beach, although she tends to be a bit more cautious these days. Jackie is the author of six Low Country Dog Walker Mysteries, including Bite the Dust, Dog-Gone Dead, Bag of Bones, Caught and Collared, A Killer Unleashed, and A Suspicious Breed.
Review:
The characters are well rounded and well developed. Andi Grace is putting the finishing touches on her wedding and getting ready for her honeymoon. But as luck would have it, her wedding photographer is murdered and now she will have to figure of who the murderer is and why it happened. She better get moving if she wants to make it to her wedding
The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning. At times I felt like there were a lot of characters to keep track of, but maybe that is just me. The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The mystery was well plotted and not easily solved.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. Grab a copy of the book and enjoy.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Beyond The Page and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

This is my first Jackie Layton book, and it most assuredly will not be my last. I found the concept of a dog walker mystery really interesting to me. I had not seen that before and I am always on the lookout for new authors and interesting concepts. I really enjoyed the fact that not only was she a dogwalker but also her own boss with her own business. I found that very clever.

I like that it brought attention to puppy mills and people that should not be dog breeders but not in a political way but a moral way. That, to me, is refreshing. The characters are well fleshed out, I could easily envision myself in the world that the author was trying to convey. The writing is intelligent and yet not so posh that no one understands what they're saying.

The mystery was very clever, and I love how everything came together in the end. It really kept me on my toes. I loved all of the twists and turns. If you, like I do, enjoy an intelligent well-rounded cozy then this is most definitely the book for you. I highly recommend it. I cannot wait to read more of the series.

Thanks to Net Galley, the publishers, and to Jackie Layton for the ability to read and review this book. All opinions are my own and are completely honest.

Very entertaining, enjoyable, and compelling: a solid mystery that kept me hooked and guessing.
Liked it
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

After the initial pages, I found myself not connecting with the story or characters, so I decided to pass on this book. Did not finish

I’ve absolutely loved this entire series and hope there’ll be more adventures for Andi, Marc and all their friends and extended family. Ike was such an awesome addition back when he was added, and he got to do a little sleuthing this time. Some new family members and friends joined the flock this time and it was super su-weet, as Marc would say.

Andi had her plate full before she and her bestie had their double wedding to the loves of their lives. I was especially eager to see the rotten perp or perps brought to justice after the murder and a scheme cheating money from donors that helped dogs in need. Some awesome sleuthing followed by a quick but tense showdown, then life was back to the two weddings.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Beyond the Page via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

A Suspicious Breed by Jackie Layton is a captivating cozy mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Andi Grace, amidst planning her wedding and organizing a dog shelter, finds herself entangled in a web of deceit when her favorite local vet gets involved in a crooked fundraising scheme. Layton weaves a tale filled with suspense and intrigue as Andi Grace delves into the mystery, uncovering dark secrets and dangerous plots. With a charming cast of characters and a plot that keeps you guessing until the very end, "A Suspicious Breed" is a must-read for fans of cozy mysteries.

Let's face it, the cover of this book made me pick it up. Then the cover synopsis made me say.....hmmm. But when I read it.....I found an excellent cozy mystery and another author to follow. As this is book #6, I now have 5 more titles on my TBR list. Jackie Layton has another fan in her club!

While I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery, I couldn't shake the feeling that the ending left something to be desired. As the last book in the series, I had hoped for more closure on the characters' personal journeys. With Andi Grace's wedding to Marc looming just around the corner, her attention is torn between solving the murder and untangling the dog scam - a conflict that felt all too real.

As she delves deeper into the investigation, I found myself wishing for more scenes of Andi Grace spending time with her sister and her new niece, a subplot that might have added depth to her character. Additionally, I missed seeing more of her best friend, Juliet, who has been a constant presence throughout the series.

While the recurring characters have undoubtedly grown over the course of the series, I felt that there could have been more development in this final installment.

Overall, while I enjoyed this series, I couldn't help but feel slightly disappointed by the final two books. While they were engaging, they didn't quite live up to my expectations for a series finale. I had hoped for more closure and character development, as well as a more satisfying resolution to the overarching mystery.

3.5/5

"A Suspicious Breed (A Low Country Dog Walker Mystery #6)" by Jackie Layton. Being the 6th book in the series it reads fairly standalone after the first few chapters of the book. Honestly, so much was thrown at the reader information wise in the first few pages I got a bit lost until the mystery started setting in. Then the details I was confused about started smoothing out and making sense. It may have not been as confusing if I had read the previous books. I did receive my copy of this book from netgalley and figured I would try just jumping in. Maybe don't do that.

Andi Grace (she goes by both names and it gets said often, to the point of excessive) is getting ready for her wedding while trying to solve the mystery of a per charity scam that maybe lead to the death of her friend/wedding photographer. Just a lot going on. I felt that this one was pretty well solved from the beginning, it just needed the evidence found.

Extra little side note, if this is something you like to know, the Christian undertones are there. It's very mild but a bit more than the average cozy mystery.

I really like this series. A dog walker…so lot of pups to enjoy, the South, a perfect setting, and a mystery that keeps you on your toes from page one to the end? This series has it all! It delivers each and every single entry, and this is book six in the series. Never a single let down in any of them!

This is the sixth book in the Low Country Dog Walker mysteries. It’s a good idea to read them in order so you know who everyone is and what they’re talking about. Before Grace can marry Marc, a killer must be found and whether there’s a scam going on with a dog charity. Enjoyable story.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This is the sixth release in this charming series with a dog walker protagnist who solves murders. I enjoy this series for all the wonderful characters especially the dogs. Thank you to the publisher, to Net Galley and to the author for the opportunity.

This book has a lot of activity non stop for Andi our protganist. She is getting married in a double wedding, trying to solve a murder, running her business and finding the truth behind a possible scam. The characters are all richly drawn to the story and add to the fun. The dogs are wonderful and a fun part of the series. Andi is on the case of a photographer's death right before her wedding. Will she solve the crime and will the true suspect be found ? This next in series is to exciting to give away spoilers. I enjoyed the sleuth to conclusion and found this a fun addtion to the series. Well done to the author.

amateur-sleuth, dogs, South-Carolina, small-town, small-business, pets, family-dynamics, family-drama, relatives, relationships, local-law-enforcement, murder-investigation, scam, friendship, sisters, siblings, journalist*****

Andi Grace operates a dog walking an boarder business and is being married in a week. Then a woman she knows as a journalist is found murdered. Andi's fiancé Mark is in the music business, but they both become involved in bringing a fraudulent charity involving dog care to book. The characters are engaging and the investigations are very convoluted. Loved it!
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Beyond the Page Publishing via NetGalley. Thank you!
Book 6 of A Low Country Dog Walker Mystery

A Suspicious Breed is the 6th boom in the Low Country Dig Walker series. The characters are likeable but there are a lot to.keep track of. A list at the beginning would be helpful. I have read several of the other books in the series and I enjoyed A Suspicious Breed once I got into the story. Dog walker Andi Grace is getting married to Marc. They are having a double ceremony with Juliet and Nate. At an event, Zarina, a photographer, ended up dead. The local Vet is helping dogs whose owners can't afford necessary operations. Andi Grace is concerned there is a crooked fundraising operation going on regarding a dog charity. There are a few suspects and I suspected the culprit but wasn't sure until the end. Andi Grace and fellow sleuths need to find the killer so the wedding can go on. The book is a little long - 314 pages and 64 Chapters. I enjoyed the story and the regular characters plus some new ones. #ASuspiciousBreed #LowCountryDogWalker #NetGalley #BeyondThePage

#ASuspiciousBreed #NetGalley is my favorite in the series so far.
Andi Grace is a wonderful character and I had a blast reading this book.
Andi is getting married so her life is extra busy, and when her veterinarian is suspected of being involved in a fund raising scam, she's determined to prove his innocence.
This book is filled with colorful characters and animals you will fall in love with.
I'm happy to recommend this book and the others to all cozy mystery readers.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.

A charming story. It is full of dogs, murder and bad business. A delightful variety of characters. While the baddies seem fairly obvious all along, it still requires proof. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.