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A Chatty Corgi Mystery #1
To Fetch a Felon
A tea shop owner and her beloved corgi attempt to collar a criminal in the first entry of a charming new cozy mystery series set in a quaint British village.
Emma Reed left London because she wanted to put her life in high finance behind her. Her dream is to open a small tea shop in an idyllic village in Cornwall, with its cobblestone streets and twisting byways. Emma plans to bake the recipes handed down to her from her beloved grandmother, and there'll be plenty of space for her talking corgi, Oliver, to explore. Yes...talking. Emma has always been able to understand Oliver, even though no one else can, and she's looking forward to plenty of quality time with her best canine buddy in the countryside.
But when Emma arrives in the village she discovers that the curmudgeonly owner of her new building, Victoria, hates dogs and refuses to sell the building because of Oliver. Although some might turn tail and run, Emma is determined to win Victoria over. Unfortunately, she never gets the chance. When Emma delivers some of her homemade scones as a peace offering, she finds Victoria dead from a cup of poisoned tea. Together, Emma and Oliver will need to unleash their detective skills to catch a killer.
Emma Reed left London because she wanted to put her life in high finance behind her. Her dream is to open a small tea shop in an idyllic village in Cornwall, with its cobblestone streets and twisting byways. Emma plans to bake the recipes handed down to her from her beloved grandmother, and there'll be plenty of space for her talking corgi, Oliver, to explore. Yes...talking. Emma has always been able to understand Oliver, even though no one else can, and she's looking forward to plenty of quality time with her best canine buddy in the countryside.
But when Emma arrives in the village she discovers that the curmudgeonly owner of her new building, Victoria, hates dogs and refuses to sell the building because of Oliver. Although some might turn tail and run, Emma is determined to win Victoria over. Unfortunately, she never gets the chance. When Emma delivers some of her homemade scones as a peace offering, she finds Victoria dead from a cup of poisoned tea. Together, Emma and Oliver will need to unleash their detective skills to catch a killer.
330 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2020
75 people are currently reading
2844 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Hawkins
3 books59 followersJennifer Hawkins is a Michigan-based author of cozy mysteries. She’s also a mom, binge reader, corgi enthusiast, and a lover of All Things British. For tea, she prefers a second flush Darjeeling with milk. She also makes a killer (so to speak) lemon curd.
Also see Darcie Wilde
source: publisher
Also see Darcie Wilde
source: publisher
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 172 reviews
August 27, 2024
A cute book, especially for corgi lovers. The synopsis had me at “talking corgi!”
November 28, 2020
I'll start by saying that this review is more about me and my tastes than it is about the author and the writing. I was a fan of Ms. Hawkins when she wrote the Witch's Cat Mystery series under the name Delia James. That series had a paranormal element and I enjoyed it very much, so when I saw she was writing a new series that involved a talking corgi I thought I would give it a try. Unfortunately, this book was just not my cup of tea. It turns out, that while I enjoy the paranormal cozies with animals that appear to have the ability to understand humans, I found that the talking dog was just too much of a stretch for me. The book moves well and is easy to read. The characters are all likable and the mystery keeps the reader's interest. I think those readers who can get past the talking corgi will love this series and come back for more. That is the beauty of this genre. While this book was not for me, there are plenty of other readers who are going to love it.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Berkley, through Netgalley. The thoughts and opinions are my own.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Berkley, through Netgalley. The thoughts and opinions are my own.
January 18, 2021
A delightful plot with a rather unusual pet character made this debut cozy mystery an awesomely refreshing read for this animal lover!
Forty-five year old Emma Reed opens a tea shop in Trevena—an idyllic Cornish village poised on a scenic, rugged coastline. She spends much of her time with Oliver, a lively and mischievous Pembroke Welsh Corgi. In a genius Dr. Doolittle twist—Emma and Oliver can talk to each other! This gift runs in Emma’s ancestry.
Come to find out, Oliver is an excellent sleuth with his nose and keen observation skills; plus, he can talk to other animals and makes friends with a hyper Yorkie, Percy; and a marmalade cat, Cream Tangerine. They help him with the missions Emma sends him on. The animal characters add a lot of charm to this story.
One outstanding character to me was Detective Chief Inspector Constance Brent, who uses an unusual talent! You must read the story to find out what it is! To Fetch A Felon is definitely original and I immensely enjoyed reading it. I look forward to the next story in the Chatty Corgi series.
Forty-five year old Emma Reed opens a tea shop in Trevena—an idyllic Cornish village poised on a scenic, rugged coastline. She spends much of her time with Oliver, a lively and mischievous Pembroke Welsh Corgi. In a genius Dr. Doolittle twist—Emma and Oliver can talk to each other! This gift runs in Emma’s ancestry.
Come to find out, Oliver is an excellent sleuth with his nose and keen observation skills; plus, he can talk to other animals and makes friends with a hyper Yorkie, Percy; and a marmalade cat, Cream Tangerine. They help him with the missions Emma sends him on. The animal characters add a lot of charm to this story.
One outstanding character to me was Detective Chief Inspector Constance Brent, who uses an unusual talent! You must read the story to find out what it is! To Fetch A Felon is definitely original and I immensely enjoyed reading it. I look forward to the next story in the Chatty Corgi series.
December 8, 2020
I received an e-ARC from Crooked Lane Books through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own and not affected by the giveaway.
Emma Reed and her Corgi Oliver are exploring the charming Cornish village of Trevena where they hope to make their home. Emma has dreams of opening her own tea shop and Oliver is eager to chase foxes away from his special human. Emma does not expect to encounter the village crank, Victoria Roberts, a woman who does NOT like dogs and owns half the village, including Penhallow's, the old tea shop Emma hopes to reopen. She worries Victoria won't let her rent Penhallow's. Emma decides to bring over a peace offering of scones to discuss renting the shop but when she arrives, she discovers Victoria lying dead on the floor. Oliver suspects something unnatural killed Victoria but being canine, he can't express what is is in human terms. Some kind of flowers in the tea? The village is abuzz with gossip about Victoria's death. Who DIDN'T want to kill her, aside from her friend Louise? Another visitor, Parker Taite, a writer, encourages Emma to investigate, believing real estate agent Maggie Trenwith killed Victoria to get her hands on Victoria's land to sell to developers. Emma isn't sure she trusts Parker but she knows she's in a unique position to gossip with the locals and uncover information DCI Brent can't, as competent as she is. With Oliver at her side to make friends and sniff out clues, can she solve the mystery before her dreams crumble like overbaked scones?
I really, really liked this book. It ticks most of the boxes for me: dogs, English village and baking! There's actually even a historical mystery to solve but it's too recent for my interests or else this would tick all the boxes. Trevana is charming but once all was revealed, I found the village full of dark, sad secrets and maybe not so charming. I loved traveling to Cornwall though, I place I fell in love with through the The Poldark Saga: Books 1 - 3. Here we see modern Cornwall, still stuck in time very much as it was way back when, just after the Poldark times. There's a high street, a fish and chips shop, a B&B, a vintage home furnishings store, a closed tea room and friendly people, aside from one. There are also two cute dogs and some yummy treats!
The mystery is very good. The suspect pool is limited but I didn't guess whodunit. I did sort of suspect the first part but not the second. It was very heartbreaking. The writing style is lively and engaging. Non-crazy dog ladies might not enjoy the chapters from Oliver's point-of-view. At first even I thought it was weird but I quickly fell in love with this unique way of telling a story. I noticed only a few errors in the ARC I hope are corrected before the paperback hits the market in a month. All were in the second half of the book. The only real problem I had with this novel is that it's too long for a cozy and too repetitive. If it can be trimmed (Emma's parts), it would be a 4.5 star read from me. Not 5 because of the big reveal.
The characters are so well-developed, they fully come alive to me. Emma, a 45-year-old finance sector veteran, is a little older than I normally like my heroines, but she seems younger. Her age isn't relevant to the story, just her experience working as a banker. It made her wise but wore her down. I absolutely ADORE her unique relationship with her Corgi pup Oliver. Oliver is absolutely adorable. He's super loyal to Emma and sees it as his duty to guard her and protect her. He doesn't ever WANT to leave her but sometimes he can't help but chase a fox- you know, just to scare it away from his Emma. Emma can speak to Oliver- literally. She hears his thoughts in English and he understands everything she says back. What I found enjoyable about this concept is that unlike the other novels I've read, the dog speaks dog and not human. Oliver reports his impressions from scents. Names of people and things are not important. Emma doesn't always know what he means because of the way they communicate. The house smells like flowers. bad. wrong. It's up to Emma to interpret what that means. Oliver is just too darn adorable. Emma does know when he wants more sausages or to visit the fish and chips shop. He may speak doggie English but anyone who is owned by a canine know their stomachs speak louder than words LOL! Oliver is a true Watson to Emma's Sherlock.
Victoria Roberts was the village crank but she had a heart of pure gold when it came to those she loved and cared about. Victoria wanted to keep the village pristine and untouched by modern life (I believe they have wifi though and cell towers). She owns half the village to keep it the way she likes it-free of tourists and developers. I understand that feeling and I'm not sure the development deal is a good one but the village already has one closed shop, how long before others follow? How long before Trevana gets left behind and the young people move to more touristy areas or the cities where the jobs are? Victoria was a complicated character and in many ways I feel sorry for her. In other ways, I don't.
Maggie Trenwith (love the name, wink wink), the real estate agent, is fierce. She's determined to get what she wants and won't let anyone or anything stand in her way. She can be ruthless. Her charm seems fake and turned on to land a commission. I don't know if I trust her. I don't think she'd stoop to murder but maybe? Like Maggie, Parker Taite is not always likable. I didn't like him or trust him from the start. However, Oliver seems to like him, so... maybe he's OK? I think his ethics are shady and perhaps his morals as well. I liked him for murderer until... well, it seemed like he wasn't. I think he came to Trevana to cause trouble.
Louise Craddock, Victoria's best friend, is a nervous type. Victoria was certainly the alpha in the relationship, but I assume Louise was content to leave it that way. I think Louise cared about Victoria and what Victoria thought was right. Without Victoria she has to make her own decisions. Did she kill her friend to inherit the land to sell to developers? I don't think she has it in her to murder someone but I think she knows more than she lets on. Victoria's nephew, Jimmy, seems to know what happened. He made a mistake and is paying for it. As a result, he needs money. Could he have murdered his aunt to inherit? I believe he poisoned his aunt to put her out of commission for awhile so he could take over her business deals and sell to the developer. Unlike his aunt, he likes dogs and is kind to Oliver. I don't think Jimmy killed his aunt on purpose.
Oliver makes a new friend too, Percy, the Yorkshire Terrier, who is staying with Parker Taite. Percy is a Houdini. He likes to run away and explore and play. He's like a toddler. I don't like Oliver's attitude towards Percy. I happen to love terriers for their terriertude and their selective hearing. Yorkies aren't real terriers though. They've been bred down to be companions more than working dogs, as Percy is supposed to be. I think Percy's problem is his human is away and his human's brother has no idea what to do with him or any interest in him at all. Percy has a huge role to play at the end of the story though.
Ruth, Louise and Victoria's best friend, no longer lives in the village. She lives in a care home. Why? She's only about my mom's age~ 70ish. That's not old enough to be in a nursing home in a wheelchair. Ruth's childhood was utterly heartbreaking and sadly, rather common. What on earth was wrong with people back then?! I don't get it. Her father was despicable and should have been in jail. No wonder no one missed him when he disappeared. The secondary mystery revolves around him.
Emma's first friend in the village, Genny Knowles, owner of the fish and chips shop, is a huge gossip. I can't stand that normally but Genny is friendly and fun. She appreciates the village as is but knows the tourists bring in business. She can take or leave the development. Genny also knows a good thing when she eats it and encourages Emma's dreams. I think Genny can be a bit mischievous but a good friend to have around. Angelique, the B&B owner, is a motherly figure who cares about her guests. She's kind and supportive of Emma and good to Oliver. Her daughter, Pearl, has some big ideas that could help Trevana stay relevant with the B&B at the center. I'm not sure I like her ideas. They make sense but she moves FAST and I'm not sure everyone else is ready to keep up. Other quirky villagers include PC Patel, a kind young man who grew up in the village. His family is a bit eccentric but proud of him. He seems extremely sympathetic for a cop. DCI Constance Brent, a female detective, is wonderful. She's intelligent and seems to know more than she lets on. She's very sweet with Oliver and according to Oliver, she has dogs of her own. She's firm with Emma but not mean and for a change, doesn't think Emma is the killer. Ben, the taxi driver, is friendly and Emma seems to be developing a crush on him. Only time will tell if he will reciprocate.
I highly recommend this book to dog lovers and English village cozy mystery lovers. Baking mystery fans will enjoy it too. MOSTLY recommended though for crazy dog people, like myself. You do have to suspend some disbelief but the dog stuff is cute and fun. I can't wait to read more about Emma and Oliver's adventures in Cornwall! I need some recipes, too, in the completed paperback edition, thank you!
Written by Darcie Wilde/Sarah Zettel, etc. Thank you to the publisher for suggesting the idea.
I can't wait to read book 2.
Emma Reed and her Corgi Oliver are exploring the charming Cornish village of Trevena where they hope to make their home. Emma has dreams of opening her own tea shop and Oliver is eager to chase foxes away from his special human. Emma does not expect to encounter the village crank, Victoria Roberts, a woman who does NOT like dogs and owns half the village, including Penhallow's, the old tea shop Emma hopes to reopen. She worries Victoria won't let her rent Penhallow's. Emma decides to bring over a peace offering of scones to discuss renting the shop but when she arrives, she discovers Victoria lying dead on the floor. Oliver suspects something unnatural killed Victoria but being canine, he can't express what is is in human terms. Some kind of flowers in the tea? The village is abuzz with gossip about Victoria's death. Who DIDN'T want to kill her, aside from her friend Louise? Another visitor, Parker Taite, a writer, encourages Emma to investigate, believing real estate agent Maggie Trenwith killed Victoria to get her hands on Victoria's land to sell to developers. Emma isn't sure she trusts Parker but she knows she's in a unique position to gossip with the locals and uncover information DCI Brent can't, as competent as she is. With Oliver at her side to make friends and sniff out clues, can she solve the mystery before her dreams crumble like overbaked scones?
I really, really liked this book. It ticks most of the boxes for me: dogs, English village and baking! There's actually even a historical mystery to solve but it's too recent for my interests or else this would tick all the boxes. Trevana is charming but once all was revealed, I found the village full of dark, sad secrets and maybe not so charming. I loved traveling to Cornwall though, I place I fell in love with through the The Poldark Saga: Books 1 - 3. Here we see modern Cornwall, still stuck in time very much as it was way back when, just after the Poldark times. There's a high street, a fish and chips shop, a B&B, a vintage home furnishings store, a closed tea room and friendly people, aside from one. There are also two cute dogs and some yummy treats!
The mystery is very good. The suspect pool is limited but I didn't guess whodunit. I did sort of suspect the first part but not the second. It was very heartbreaking. The writing style is lively and engaging. Non-crazy dog ladies might not enjoy the chapters from Oliver's point-of-view. At first even I thought it was weird but I quickly fell in love with this unique way of telling a story. I noticed only a few errors in the ARC I hope are corrected before the paperback hits the market in a month. All were in the second half of the book. The only real problem I had with this novel is that it's too long for a cozy and too repetitive. If it can be trimmed (Emma's parts), it would be a 4.5 star read from me. Not 5 because of the big reveal.
The characters are so well-developed, they fully come alive to me. Emma, a 45-year-old finance sector veteran, is a little older than I normally like my heroines, but she seems younger. Her age isn't relevant to the story, just her experience working as a banker. It made her wise but wore her down. I absolutely ADORE her unique relationship with her Corgi pup Oliver. Oliver is absolutely adorable. He's super loyal to Emma and sees it as his duty to guard her and protect her. He doesn't ever WANT to leave her but sometimes he can't help but chase a fox- you know, just to scare it away from his Emma. Emma can speak to Oliver- literally. She hears his thoughts in English and he understands everything she says back. What I found enjoyable about this concept is that unlike the other novels I've read, the dog speaks dog and not human. Oliver reports his impressions from scents. Names of people and things are not important. Emma doesn't always know what he means because of the way they communicate. The house smells like flowers. bad. wrong. It's up to Emma to interpret what that means. Oliver is just too darn adorable. Emma does know when he wants more sausages or to visit the fish and chips shop. He may speak doggie English but anyone who is owned by a canine know their stomachs speak louder than words LOL! Oliver is a true Watson to Emma's Sherlock.
Victoria Roberts was the village crank but she had a heart of pure gold when it came to those she loved and cared about. Victoria wanted to keep the village pristine and untouched by modern life (I believe they have wifi though and cell towers). She owns half the village to keep it the way she likes it-free of tourists and developers. I understand that feeling and I'm not sure the development deal is a good one but the village already has one closed shop, how long before others follow? How long before Trevana gets left behind and the young people move to more touristy areas or the cities where the jobs are? Victoria was a complicated character and in many ways I feel sorry for her. In other ways, I don't.
Maggie Trenwith (love the name, wink wink), the real estate agent, is fierce. She's determined to get what she wants and won't let anyone or anything stand in her way. She can be ruthless. Her charm seems fake and turned on to land a commission. I don't know if I trust her. I don't think she'd stoop to murder but maybe? Like Maggie, Parker Taite is not always likable. I didn't like him or trust him from the start. However, Oliver seems to like him, so... maybe he's OK? I think his ethics are shady and perhaps his morals as well. I liked him for murderer until... well, it seemed like he wasn't. I think he came to Trevana to cause trouble.
Louise Craddock, Victoria's best friend, is a nervous type. Victoria was certainly the alpha in the relationship, but I assume Louise was content to leave it that way. I think Louise cared about Victoria and what Victoria thought was right. Without Victoria she has to make her own decisions. Did she kill her friend to inherit the land to sell to developers? I don't think she has it in her to murder someone but I think she knows more than she lets on. Victoria's nephew, Jimmy, seems to know what happened. He made a mistake and is paying for it. As a result, he needs money. Could he have murdered his aunt to inherit? I believe he poisoned his aunt to put her out of commission for awhile so he could take over her business deals and sell to the developer. Unlike his aunt, he likes dogs and is kind to Oliver. I don't think Jimmy killed his aunt on purpose.
Oliver makes a new friend too, Percy, the Yorkshire Terrier, who is staying with Parker Taite. Percy is a Houdini. He likes to run away and explore and play. He's like a toddler. I don't like Oliver's attitude towards Percy. I happen to love terriers for their terriertude and their selective hearing. Yorkies aren't real terriers though. They've been bred down to be companions more than working dogs, as Percy is supposed to be. I think Percy's problem is his human is away and his human's brother has no idea what to do with him or any interest in him at all. Percy has a huge role to play at the end of the story though.
Ruth, Louise and Victoria's best friend, no longer lives in the village. She lives in a care home. Why? She's only about my mom's age~ 70ish. That's not old enough to be in a nursing home in a wheelchair. Ruth's childhood was utterly heartbreaking and sadly, rather common. What on earth was wrong with people back then?! I don't get it. Her father was despicable and should have been in jail. No wonder no one missed him when he disappeared. The secondary mystery revolves around him.
Emma's first friend in the village, Genny Knowles, owner of the fish and chips shop, is a huge gossip. I can't stand that normally but Genny is friendly and fun. She appreciates the village as is but knows the tourists bring in business. She can take or leave the development. Genny also knows a good thing when she eats it and encourages Emma's dreams. I think Genny can be a bit mischievous but a good friend to have around. Angelique, the B&B owner, is a motherly figure who cares about her guests. She's kind and supportive of Emma and good to Oliver. Her daughter, Pearl, has some big ideas that could help Trevana stay relevant with the B&B at the center. I'm not sure I like her ideas. They make sense but she moves FAST and I'm not sure everyone else is ready to keep up. Other quirky villagers include PC Patel, a kind young man who grew up in the village. His family is a bit eccentric but proud of him. He seems extremely sympathetic for a cop. DCI Constance Brent, a female detective, is wonderful. She's intelligent and seems to know more than she lets on. She's very sweet with Oliver and according to Oliver, she has dogs of her own. She's firm with Emma but not mean and for a change, doesn't think Emma is the killer. Ben, the taxi driver, is friendly and Emma seems to be developing a crush on him. Only time will tell if he will reciprocate.
I highly recommend this book to dog lovers and English village cozy mystery lovers. Baking mystery fans will enjoy it too. MOSTLY recommended though for crazy dog people, like myself. You do have to suspend some disbelief but the dog stuff is cute and fun. I can't wait to read more about Emma and Oliver's adventures in Cornwall! I need some recipes, too, in the completed paperback edition, thank you!
Written by Darcie Wilde/Sarah Zettel, etc. Thank you to the publisher for suggesting the idea.
I can't wait to read book 2.
March 4, 2022
To Fetch a Felon is the first book in a series I didn't know I needed in my life but I'm happy it is! Charming, fun and clever, it was a brilliant start to a new series.
Emma decides to quit her unfulfilling finance job in London and move to Cornwall to open a tea shop. Armed with her nan's delectable recipes and her corgi Oliver (who can "talk" to her telepathically) Emma arrives in Trevena and immediately angers Victoria, a woman who is committed to stopping any kind of development of the village by controlling much of the real estate in the area. The next day, after baking some delicious scones to try and win Victoria over, Emma arrives at Victoria's house and finds her dead. With many suspects and many motives, who killed Victoria and why?
I loved pretty much everything about this book; the quick pace, the lovely village and the quirky villagers, Oliver's hijinks, and the twisty plot. I thought the investigation (and I use that term loosely, Emma didn't so much investigate as much as she just went around town talking to different people) felt realistic and believable. I did wonder why Emma "hears" Oliver but not other animals like Percy or cats? Also loved Oliver's backstory about being found arguing with a moose. I could instantly picture it in my mind!
Absolutely stinkin' adorable and I can already tell this is a series I'm going to love. 100% recommend for cozy lovers!
Emma decides to quit her unfulfilling finance job in London and move to Cornwall to open a tea shop. Armed with her nan's delectable recipes and her corgi Oliver (who can "talk" to her telepathically) Emma arrives in Trevena and immediately angers Victoria, a woman who is committed to stopping any kind of development of the village by controlling much of the real estate in the area. The next day, after baking some delicious scones to try and win Victoria over, Emma arrives at Victoria's house and finds her dead. With many suspects and many motives, who killed Victoria and why?
I loved pretty much everything about this book; the quick pace, the lovely village and the quirky villagers, Oliver's hijinks, and the twisty plot. I thought the investigation (and I use that term loosely, Emma didn't so much investigate as much as she just went around town talking to different people) felt realistic and believable. I did wonder why Emma "hears" Oliver but not other animals like Percy or cats? Also loved Oliver's backstory about being found arguing with a moose. I could instantly picture it in my mind!
Absolutely stinkin' adorable and I can already tell this is a series I'm going to love. 100% recommend for cozy lovers!
October 21, 2021
To Fetch a Felon by Jennifer Hawkins is the first in a new cozy mystery series set in a small village in Cornwall, England. Emma and Oliver, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi, have moved from London to Trevana to start a new life. With a touch of paranormal, Emma and Oliver can talk to each other which is an inherited trait for Emma and only the slightest possibility of romance, Emma's new life starts off with a a lovely introduction to the village, a few residents who welcome her to the village, a cold case mystery, and then a recent murder of a cantankerous older woman who owns lots of property in the village. Oliver often steals the scene when he and Emma are out and about sleuthing. An enjoyable afternoon read.
January 28, 2021
To Fetch a Felon by Jennifer Hawkins is the debut of A Chatty Corgi Mystery series. This is a cute story with some unique elements. Emma Reed has been in finance in London and she is now ready to realize her lifelong dream of opening a tea shop. She visited Trevena in Cornwall with her family as a child which is why she picked the charming Cornish town. I liked that Emma is an older protagonist at forty-five. She can also talk to and understand her corgi, Oliver. Oliver is an inquisitive dog with good sniffer. I enjoyed the chapters from his point-of-view. They were amusing and I thought the author captured the dogs’ personality. There are some nice secondary characters who become Emma’s friends and help her solve the crime. The mystery was multifaceted. There are a couple of suspects along with good clues. There is misdirection and then a second death. There is a forty-year mystery as well. Emma soon discovers that a small village like Trevena is rife with rumors and secrets. I enjoyed how Oliver contributed to the investigation. I like how everything tied together in this whodunit and the resolution. The author provided vivid descriptions of Cornwall. She brought the area alive for me with her word imagery. I am glad the author took the time to develop our main character, Emma and establish the setting. It makes for a richer story. To Fetch a Felon is an entertaining cozy mystery with a curious corgi, rampant rumors, scrumptious scones, tasty tea, a cozy cottage, and startling secrets.
June 27, 2022
Surprisingly good. The mystery was fun to try and figure out, the characters were good, a talking corgi :) and a good cozy mystery. Not bad for a first in series.
August 18, 2023
This was so good! If you love cozy mysteries you will absolutely enjoy this. This should be a tv series!
January 13, 2021
How can you go wrong with a talking corgi sleuth? TO FETCH A FELON is the delectable first book in the Chatty Corgi Mystery series with loads of English village charm, appealing characters, and an engaging mystery that keeps readers guessing.
I really like protagonist Emma and appreciate that she is older than most of the cozy sleuths out there. Other characters that stand out are B&B proprietor Angelique and fish & chip shop owner Genny. I see Emma and these ladies becoming great friends. There is the slightest hint of a romantic flirtation with a local, but it is minimal and does not take away from the mystery plot. Cantankerous victim Victoria meets her end quite early in the story, which I prefer in my cozies, but readers get to know her quite well through Emma’s investigating. Unlikeable as she is, I cannot help but feel bad about her demise. There is ultimately more than one victim, and this adds even more twists to an already complex mystery. I vacillated throughout about whodunit and was a little surprised by the outcome.
Readers must suspend reality to fully get into the talking corgi aspect, but I think it is quite well done. Oliver is prominently featured throughout the book accompanying Emma everywhere and investigating doggy style. As a true corgi enthusiast , I love this whimsical feature. I think other fans of pet themed and culinary cozies will agree.
I adore TO FETCH A FELON and cannot wait to read more about Emma and Oliver. Highly recommended.
I gratefully received an ARC of this title from Berkley Books and voluntarily shared my thoughts here.
I really like protagonist Emma and appreciate that she is older than most of the cozy sleuths out there. Other characters that stand out are B&B proprietor Angelique and fish & chip shop owner Genny. I see Emma and these ladies becoming great friends. There is the slightest hint of a romantic flirtation with a local, but it is minimal and does not take away from the mystery plot. Cantankerous victim Victoria meets her end quite early in the story, which I prefer in my cozies, but readers get to know her quite well through Emma’s investigating. Unlikeable as she is, I cannot help but feel bad about her demise. There is ultimately more than one victim, and this adds even more twists to an already complex mystery. I vacillated throughout about whodunit and was a little surprised by the outcome.
Readers must suspend reality to fully get into the talking corgi aspect, but I think it is quite well done. Oliver is prominently featured throughout the book accompanying Emma everywhere and investigating doggy style. As a true corgi enthusiast , I love this whimsical feature. I think other fans of pet themed and culinary cozies will agree.
I adore TO FETCH A FELON and cannot wait to read more about Emma and Oliver. Highly recommended.
I gratefully received an ARC of this title from Berkley Books and voluntarily shared my thoughts here.
April 30, 2021
To Fetch a Felon by Jennifer Hawkins (5 stars) Emma, a tea shop owner and her beloved corgi Oliver, put their combined detective skills to work in solving a crime!
Emma Reed left her London business lifestyle to settle down in the idyllic village of Cornwall and fulfill her dreams of open a tea shop. She plans to share her grandmother's delicious baking recipes with the community and wants a quiet place for Oliver to explore. Oliver uniquely is able to chat with Emma, even though no one else can, and the two share this adorable bond.
If you know anything about me you know one of the things I truly adore in the world is corgis! There's just something about their short stature and sassy personalities that reminds me of myself, maybe? I don't know, I just love them. Anyways, when I noticed this book on my library new releases I had to snag a copy!
This book screamed to be as: 1) Emma is basically = Emily 2) Corgi main character 3) British countryside charm 4) Cozy whodunnit 5) The food descriptions. Ugh, I could not get enough of this book, I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series.
Anyways, back to the synopsis, the owner of the building Victoria hates dogs and refuses to sell to Emma because of Oliver. Emma is determined to win her over and change her mind but before she has the chance Victoria is found dead! Emma and Oliver set out on some serious sleuthing to solve the murder. I really liked the protagonist Emma, especially that she is a bit older and had more experiences than other cozy sleuths. I recognize that my love of corgis is potentially tainting this review and potentially To Fetch a Felon is only a 4 star read but Oliver, the detective corgi stole my heart!
Emma Reed left her London business lifestyle to settle down in the idyllic village of Cornwall and fulfill her dreams of open a tea shop. She plans to share her grandmother's delicious baking recipes with the community and wants a quiet place for Oliver to explore. Oliver uniquely is able to chat with Emma, even though no one else can, and the two share this adorable bond.
If you know anything about me you know one of the things I truly adore in the world is corgis! There's just something about their short stature and sassy personalities that reminds me of myself, maybe? I don't know, I just love them. Anyways, when I noticed this book on my library new releases I had to snag a copy!
This book screamed to be as: 1) Emma is basically = Emily 2) Corgi main character 3) British countryside charm 4) Cozy whodunnit 5) The food descriptions. Ugh, I could not get enough of this book, I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series.
Anyways, back to the synopsis, the owner of the building Victoria hates dogs and refuses to sell to Emma because of Oliver. Emma is determined to win her over and change her mind but before she has the chance Victoria is found dead! Emma and Oliver set out on some serious sleuthing to solve the murder. I really liked the protagonist Emma, especially that she is a bit older and had more experiences than other cozy sleuths. I recognize that my love of corgis is potentially tainting this review and potentially To Fetch a Felon is only a 4 star read but Oliver, the detective corgi stole my heart!
November 15, 2024
4.5 stars
This was a great mystery. The plot was really complex. There was so much to follow that I had trouble doing other stuff while listening. There were so many characters with so many motives it was so much deeper than a typical cozy mystery. The reveal at the end was perfect and worked unlike the usual “villain telling all at the end” plot device.
The dog was great. He thought and acted just like a real dog who wants to help his owner. He wants to chase away foxes and hates cats and wants to get out of the yard if he can. He wants to go for walks and is very motivated by food.
There are lots of strong women and people of color. A little typical but still realistic gay couple are an important character set. The main character was interesting and had realistic likes and dislikes and concerns. She was motivated to help solve the mystery for important reasons.
The other characters were interesting too. Although this had the typical dog and bakery themes so common in cozy mysteries, I loved the dog as I said and the bakery ideas worked well and were believable.
My only complaint was about law enforcement. There would be more than one investigator, at least a constable or two, for a murder. The detective was completely ineffective and told Emma way too much.
I plan to read the next book in the series soon.
The narrator/reader, Henrietta Meier, was great. I enjoyed both her voices and intonation.
This was a great mystery. The plot was really complex. There was so much to follow that I had trouble doing other stuff while listening. There were so many characters with so many motives it was so much deeper than a typical cozy mystery. The reveal at the end was perfect and worked unlike the usual “villain telling all at the end” plot device.
The dog was great. He thought and acted just like a real dog who wants to help his owner. He wants to chase away foxes and hates cats and wants to get out of the yard if he can. He wants to go for walks and is very motivated by food.
There are lots of strong women and people of color. A little typical but still realistic gay couple are an important character set. The main character was interesting and had realistic likes and dislikes and concerns. She was motivated to help solve the mystery for important reasons.
The other characters were interesting too. Although this had the typical dog and bakery themes so common in cozy mysteries, I loved the dog as I said and the bakery ideas worked well and were believable.
My only complaint was about law enforcement. There would be more than one investigator, at least a constable or two, for a murder. The detective was completely ineffective and told Emma way too much.
I plan to read the next book in the series soon.
The narrator/reader, Henrietta Meier, was great. I enjoyed both her voices and intonation.
January 11, 2021
Loved it!
October 11, 2024
Totally obsessed!!! Cozy mystery with the charming talking corgi. If you have a dog, how can you not wonder what they’d say if you could understand them?? I LOVE how this was portrayed because Oliver was still a corgi through and through. He didn’t have the mind of a human like you see done sometimes. I loved every minute of this book!!
January 20, 2021
To Fetch a Felon by Jennifer Hawkins is an excellent cozy mystery that is the first, in what I expect to be, an excellent new mystery series: A Chatty Corgi Mystery.
This book starts us off with the newly transplanted Emma and her beloved Corgi, Oliver, attempting to move from the high stress of London to a small village that she visited many times during her childhood vacations in Cornwall. Emma hopes that it is not too late in life to leave the high stress of the financial world and follow her dreams of opening up a tea and bakery. Not only does Emma have the gift of making her family’s treasured scone (and cakes and breads) recipe to a T, but she also has another impressive ability: to communicate and talk with her Corgi, Oliver.
After moving to the village, Emma unfortunately gets wrapped up into a murder/mystery of one of the town’s most mercurial characters: Victoria. Emma and Oliver decide to get to the bottom of the puzzle to help solve the crime, and set the record straight. What then ensues is nothing short of creative, funny, quirky, adorable, entertaining, and suspenseful .
I loved so many things about this book:
1. Hello, ideal coastal village in Cornwall with wonderful landscapes, customs, and descriptions
2. The full character cast of the village. So many wonderful characters that there is plenty of perfect source material for books to come!
3. Emma and Oliver. I love their special and unique relationship and communications. It adds and endearment and they are a great sleuthing duo. Oliver adds just the right amount of help and information without it being a “dead giveaway”. Haha I had to do that.
4. The murder/mystery plot. It was creative, complex, and with the twists and turns, I actually didn’t solve the problem until the true end.
5. The food. The descriptions of the recipes are heavenly. I need some shortbread now.
6. Corgis!!!! I love dogs, I have a Vizsla myself, and I am in love with Oliver!!!!
5/5 stars for an awesome English cozy mystery
I can’t wait until the next book comes out!
Thank you Berkley for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR, Instagram, and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 12/29/20.
This book starts us off with the newly transplanted Emma and her beloved Corgi, Oliver, attempting to move from the high stress of London to a small village that she visited many times during her childhood vacations in Cornwall. Emma hopes that it is not too late in life to leave the high stress of the financial world and follow her dreams of opening up a tea and bakery. Not only does Emma have the gift of making her family’s treasured scone (and cakes and breads) recipe to a T, but she also has another impressive ability: to communicate and talk with her Corgi, Oliver.
After moving to the village, Emma unfortunately gets wrapped up into a murder/mystery of one of the town’s most mercurial characters: Victoria. Emma and Oliver decide to get to the bottom of the puzzle to help solve the crime, and set the record straight. What then ensues is nothing short of creative, funny, quirky, adorable, entertaining, and suspenseful .
I loved so many things about this book:
1. Hello, ideal coastal village in Cornwall with wonderful landscapes, customs, and descriptions
2. The full character cast of the village. So many wonderful characters that there is plenty of perfect source material for books to come!
3. Emma and Oliver. I love their special and unique relationship and communications. It adds and endearment and they are a great sleuthing duo. Oliver adds just the right amount of help and information without it being a “dead giveaway”. Haha I had to do that.
4. The murder/mystery plot. It was creative, complex, and with the twists and turns, I actually didn’t solve the problem until the true end.
5. The food. The descriptions of the recipes are heavenly. I need some shortbread now.
6. Corgis!!!! I love dogs, I have a Vizsla myself, and I am in love with Oliver!!!!
5/5 stars for an awesome English cozy mystery
I can’t wait until the next book comes out!
Thank you Berkley for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR, Instagram, and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 12/29/20.
August 31, 2021
The first cozy mystery that I tried to read, I swiftly dropped after realizing that it was basically going to be a romance that also featured a dead body. I decided to read this after thinking that a talking corgi would be a much better addition than romance. The dog was portrayed in a interesting way that did make him seem somewhat doglike (aside from his bizarre fear of the smell of blood). There wasn't anything really wrong with this book, but there just wasn't enough happening to keep my interest level up. I couldn't help but think the book would have benefited from a little more action and a little less gossip. This isn't entirely the fault of the book, however, since I'm discovering that I probably just don't like cozy mysteries.
January 18, 2021
It’s possible that if I read this book a few years ago, I’d have been much more critical. But a corgi that can talk to his owner and help her solve mysteries is just what I needed during the crapshow life has been these last 10+ months. I was delighted. The mystery itself was ... confusing? Possibly too many players. But I sort of loved the whole premise enough to overlook plot deficiencies.
April 21, 2025
This was the best cozy I've read in a while - the characters were well written (especially the animals) and at no point did I think the heroine was To Stupid To Live (TSTL). I also enjoyed the narration for the audiobook. Highly recommended for cozy fans.
Read
September 1, 2020DNF. The dog talks to her. I'm not sticking around long enough to find out if it actually talks to her or it's just in her head. I'm out.
May 11, 2021
I'm not a fan of talking animals but Oliver is somewhat less annoying than other ones. The mystery was solid and I liked the community Emma is moving to.
January 6, 2025
Exactly as it should be.
December 30, 2020
This month I decided to request the first book in a cute new cozy series, A Chatty Corgi mystery series. Jennifer Hawkins’s To Fetch a Felon was released yesterday (December 29th) from the Berkley Publishing Group. As usual, I must thank them and NetGalley for access to an ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Let’s get on with it!
To Fetch a Felon follows Emma and Oliver, her corgi, as they move from a fast paced city life in London to a small village life full of nosy neighbors and drama in Trevena. The goal? To start a tea shop complete with homemade treats. The problem? The village witch (read that with a b instead of w) owns the shop Emma really wants to rent, along with most of the rest of the village. After a brief altercation over Oliver getting in the woman’s garden, Emma loses hope of getting the space unless she can smooth things over with the woman. The bigger problem? Emma and Oliver find the woman dead when bringing her some reconciliation scones. Now, Emma feels compelled to help solve the murder with the assistance of Oliver’s superior sense of smell. It helps that he can tell her everything he knows (yes, she and Oliver can understand each other), but sometimes she has to interpret his doggy views of the world, which can be tricky. But together they can take on any case!
I admit that I’m a sucker for stories with cute puppers, so I was excited to dig into this one. The plot was nice and twisty, adding new layers every few chapters. Every time I figured things out, a new puzzle popped up. That helped keep me invested even when no one in the story had put things together. Whenever things started dragging, something new happened. The inclusion of the decades old disappearance subplot was nice as well. I also enjoyed that we got to see some of the story from Oliver’s point of view. Those were probably the chapters I enjoyed the most.
As far as the characters go, I loved most of them. Emma was interesting and well rounded, but I kept reading her as younger than she’s supposed to be. I don’t really know why. It’s probably just me, so I’ll just say she’s young at heart. Oliver was completely adorable. He deserves all the cuddles. I felt like Taite was too obviously a greedy, sneaky dick. I had zero attachment to him and certainly no sympathy. But I liked Victoria (the village witch). She didn’t get a chance to grow as a character, but the snippets from her past made her likeable in the end. Louise and Jimmy and the rest of the characters were also intriguing people. And the other animals were great as well.
The writing was smooth and made for a quick read. It’s a relatively short book that’s broken down into 53 chapters. I actually prefer this to longer chapters because it’s easier to find a stopping point for the night (or to squeeze in just one more chapter). But there was a nice balance between description and dialogue that made the reading experience pretty pleasant.
Ultimately, I really enjoyed To Fetch a Felon. I’ll definitely be getting the second book in this series when it comes out next year. Have to get my cute pupper fix somehow and what’s better than reading about an excitable little corgi?
Overall, I gave it 4 out of 5 stars. Some of it’s a little predictable, but it’s fun and full of adorableness. If you’re looking for a quick cozy with cuddly animals, I definitely recommend checking this one out.
To Fetch a Felon follows Emma and Oliver, her corgi, as they move from a fast paced city life in London to a small village life full of nosy neighbors and drama in Trevena. The goal? To start a tea shop complete with homemade treats. The problem? The village witch (read that with a b instead of w) owns the shop Emma really wants to rent, along with most of the rest of the village. After a brief altercation over Oliver getting in the woman’s garden, Emma loses hope of getting the space unless she can smooth things over with the woman. The bigger problem? Emma and Oliver find the woman dead when bringing her some reconciliation scones. Now, Emma feels compelled to help solve the murder with the assistance of Oliver’s superior sense of smell. It helps that he can tell her everything he knows (yes, she and Oliver can understand each other), but sometimes she has to interpret his doggy views of the world, which can be tricky. But together they can take on any case!
I admit that I’m a sucker for stories with cute puppers, so I was excited to dig into this one. The plot was nice and twisty, adding new layers every few chapters. Every time I figured things out, a new puzzle popped up. That helped keep me invested even when no one in the story had put things together. Whenever things started dragging, something new happened. The inclusion of the decades old disappearance subplot was nice as well. I also enjoyed that we got to see some of the story from Oliver’s point of view. Those were probably the chapters I enjoyed the most.
As far as the characters go, I loved most of them. Emma was interesting and well rounded, but I kept reading her as younger than she’s supposed to be. I don’t really know why. It’s probably just me, so I’ll just say she’s young at heart. Oliver was completely adorable. He deserves all the cuddles. I felt like Taite was too obviously a greedy, sneaky dick. I had zero attachment to him and certainly no sympathy. But I liked Victoria (the village witch). She didn’t get a chance to grow as a character, but the snippets from her past made her likeable in the end. Louise and Jimmy and the rest of the characters were also intriguing people. And the other animals were great as well.
The writing was smooth and made for a quick read. It’s a relatively short book that’s broken down into 53 chapters. I actually prefer this to longer chapters because it’s easier to find a stopping point for the night (or to squeeze in just one more chapter). But there was a nice balance between description and dialogue that made the reading experience pretty pleasant.
Ultimately, I really enjoyed To Fetch a Felon. I’ll definitely be getting the second book in this series when it comes out next year. Have to get my cute pupper fix somehow and what’s better than reading about an excitable little corgi?
Overall, I gave it 4 out of 5 stars. Some of it’s a little predictable, but it’s fun and full of adorableness. If you’re looking for a quick cozy with cuddly animals, I definitely recommend checking this one out.
March 8, 2023
This murder mystery has everything you could want; a curious and clever heroine, a chatty canine companion, a rustic English village straight out of a storybook, a pair of gossipy husbands, a diverse cast of well-developed side characters and suspects, unpredictable twists and turns, and of course, a satisfying resolution to the mystery. I very much enjoyed this book and will most certainly pick up the second when I have a chance!
The chapters in Oliver’s perspective were a delight to read. He communicates and thinks exactly like how you would think a corgi would. He struggles to understand Emma’s human world and tries to make sense of it through smell, which often leads to more confusion for the both of them.
Knowing the end of the story, I realize that the hints and clues were there from the very beginning, but I was not able to put them together and figure out the answer before it was revealed in the story. I’m usually quite good at guessing the murderer in these types of stories, so I’m pleasantly surprised that this one was able to stump me.
My complaints are few, but major. This book takes place in England, but is written by an American author. It truly feels like she tried to throw every English phrase or word she knew into this story to try to make it seem more English. What this actually accomplished was unsettling the reader and pulling them out of the story.
Additionally, the beginning of this book was incredibly slow. It took me about a month to read the first half of this book. Once I made it past that halfway point, I finished it in two days. It’s just…boring. Emma spends more time searching for her dream house and the future location of her tea shop than she does trying to solve the murder. But once the plot eventually picks up, it really takes off and I struggled to put the book down.
The chapters in Oliver’s perspective were a delight to read. He communicates and thinks exactly like how you would think a corgi would. He struggles to understand Emma’s human world and tries to make sense of it through smell, which often leads to more confusion for the both of them.
Knowing the end of the story, I realize that the hints and clues were there from the very beginning, but I was not able to put them together and figure out the answer before it was revealed in the story. I’m usually quite good at guessing the murderer in these types of stories, so I’m pleasantly surprised that this one was able to stump me.
My complaints are few, but major. This book takes place in England, but is written by an American author. It truly feels like she tried to throw every English phrase or word she knew into this story to try to make it seem more English. What this actually accomplished was unsettling the reader and pulling them out of the story.
Additionally, the beginning of this book was incredibly slow. It took me about a month to read the first half of this book. Once I made it past that halfway point, I finished it in two days. It’s just…boring. Emma spends more time searching for her dream house and the future location of her tea shop than she does trying to solve the murder. But once the plot eventually picks up, it really takes off and I struggled to put the book down.
January 4, 2021
I love cozy mysteries. This one is set in the small English town of Trevena. Being set in England just makes it dearer to me.
This is the first in the Chatty Corgi series. Emma Reed has plans to open a tea shop, however, this woman has the rare talent of being able to understand what Oliver, her Corgi, says.
Trevena has the usual stories however, there is one about the disappearance of a resident who was not liked by many. Nicholas Penhallow owned the building that Emma would like to make her tea shop. Now it seems the rumor mill believes that his wife may have killed him and burned his body in their bakery oven.
This isn't the only mystery in this small town. Emma no sooner arrived in town, than she found the dead body of the woman who was interfering with her purchasing the tea shop, Victoria Roberts. Oliver decides to aid his senses to help find out the truth behind this murder
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries, stories set in England or those that include a dog.
I was given this book by NetGalley and Berkley Publishing in exchange for my honest review. All opinions stated are my own.
This is the first in the Chatty Corgi series. Emma Reed has plans to open a tea shop, however, this woman has the rare talent of being able to understand what Oliver, her Corgi, says.
Trevena has the usual stories however, there is one about the disappearance of a resident who was not liked by many. Nicholas Penhallow owned the building that Emma would like to make her tea shop. Now it seems the rumor mill believes that his wife may have killed him and burned his body in their bakery oven.
This isn't the only mystery in this small town. Emma no sooner arrived in town, than she found the dead body of the woman who was interfering with her purchasing the tea shop, Victoria Roberts. Oliver decides to aid his senses to help find out the truth behind this murder
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries, stories set in England or those that include a dog.
I was given this book by NetGalley and Berkley Publishing in exchange for my honest review. All opinions stated are my own.
January 7, 2021
This was such an entertaining read. I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about a talking dog, but Jennifer Hawkins did an amazing job keeping Oliver fun and in character. With everything going on in the world, this was just a fun, enjoyable journey to take and I'm grateful I had the opportunity to do so. Thank you, Jennifer Hawkins. I needed this!
January 25, 2021
I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley!
A wonderful cozy mystery with a unique cast of characters! I love the bit of magic in these pages - talking animals seem right at home in the Cliffs of Cornwall!
A wonderful cozy mystery with a unique cast of characters! I love the bit of magic in these pages - talking animals seem right at home in the Cliffs of Cornwall!
April 3, 2021
Started this because of the corgi and thought it might be silly, but it was actually pretty good! Very cosy.
did-not-finish
May 26, 2021DNf at about 30% - I love dogs and tea shops and cozy mysteries. LOVE THEM! But this talking corgi is the most annoying character I have ever read and I couldn’t take it anymore. What a missed opportunity.
September 21, 2021
Got to love book cover. It's fun, intriguing, suspenseful, easy to read, page turner and so much more. I just loved murder mystery with Emma and Oliver the talking Corgi. I was on the edge of my seat from beginning to end just to see what happens and who done it.
Highly recommend the book. Will read again.
Highly recommend the book. Will read again.
September 27, 2021
Reading multiple cozies set in the UK recently. I may have to begin observing elevenses and tea time. A talking corgi is kind of silly, but I suppose I don't read cozies for their believability, LOL!
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