The modern cosy murder is something of a closed book to me, even in its blockbusting Richard Osman iteration; I do read some stuff that gets filed under that heading simply by being old, but that's a different matter. So this is another case where I'm venturing out of my comfort zone because it's by a mate, and in this instance one operating somewhat outside his own comfort zone too, what with being better known for the likes of Atomic Blonde and that Resident Evil with the big vampire lady the Internet likes. Meaning I haven't the first idea how it would come across to a fan of the genre, though simply from having seen the titles I presume they're more habituated to the slightly daft names like solicitors Sprocksmith & Sprocksmith, faded pop star Lars Vulkan, and short but handsome Mediterranean groom Remington de Lucia. Not forgetting protagonist Gwinny Tuffel, of course. I wasn't expecting her to be detecting from the opening page, of course (I have at least that much familiarity with the subgenre), but I was a little surprised that she wasn't already dog-sitting. Rather, we open on her having recently lost the father whose carer she'd been for some years, learning that the family finances are not what she'd supposed, and wondering if she's left it too late to restart her acting career. There is an early canine encounter to establish she has the knack, but it's some chapters before she gets left in charge of two magnificent Salukis, barely before her best friend's wedding is derailed by...well, we've established what genre this is, I'm sure I don't need to spell it out. Obviously the fine hounds steal every scene they're in, as tends to happen with Salukis in real life too, but for saying he's only about as old as I am, Antony is also worryingly good at catching the way age shifts the calculus for everything from visibility to likely motives: "Only one of Tina's marriages had lasted more than five years anyway, so why not just wait for the inevitable divorce? Then again, none of us was getting any younger. Could a jealous admirer have felt this was their last chance to bag her?" I don't think I'm suddenly going to start binging Agatha Raisins or anything, but I enjoyed this, and not just because Antony writes good dog (though clearly that helps).

(Netgalley ARC)

The Dog Sitter Detective is Johnston’s first foray into the world of ‘cosy crime’, as he is better known for the Brigette Sharp novels, high octane international spy thrillers that are a million miles away from the plush London town houses and country estates that we see here. This is the literary equivalent of a warm blanket, a comfy chair, and cup of hot cocoa. Maybe even a chocolate biscuit or two on the side. Perfect for those afternoons when the real world is all a little bit too real, and you want to spend time with a good friend. Because that is exactly how Gwinny Tuffel come across. She’s the well-to-do girl at school that always wanted everyone to enjoy sports. The lady in the office who makes sure there is enough coffee and tea. Your mums friend who doesn’t need to ask you to call her Aunt because it comes naturally. Quite frankly, Gwinny is a delight.


As are her canine friends, a pair of Salukis who attempt to steal the show every time they appear. Introduced as a plot point to annoy one of the main characters, they soon become every bit as fleshed out and as integral to the plot anyone else who appears on the pages of The Dog Sitter Detective. Johnston's clear love of canines shines through the pages

Gwinny has more than a hint of the Jessica Fletcher to her - the unassuming looking older lady, who is easily dismissed by those who think they are smarter or superior. She is equal parts lost and secure, knowing how to make the most of others view of her whilst sometimes forgetting herself. There is plenty of set up in The Dog Sitter Detective for future adventures of Gwinny, and I certainly hope that we get to see more of her.

There is a hint of romance interwoven into the mystery, and it is wonderful to see a lady of certain age being given the opportunity to explore what that could mean for her, and how she views herself. Society has an unfortunate tendency to write off women once they reach an ever changing threshold, and Gwinny is a wonderful example of a lady gentling pushing against these restrictions, to see how far she can go without ruffling the wrong feathers.

'The Dog Sitter Detective' by Antony Johnston.
I already can't wait for the next book :)
The book was a good mystery, it really did keep me guessing right till the end. Retired actress Gwinny is amazing as the ameteur sleuth trying to clear the name of her best friend Tina. She has retired detective 'Birch' as her trusty sidekick, they have great chemistry. The 2 saluki dogs Spera and Fede and Birch's labrador Ronnie are standout stars :)
For anyone who is a fan of cozy crime and dogs, give this book a read :)
Thankyou you to NetGallery, the author Antony Johnston and the publisher for letting me read this book in return for an honest review.