The book title is odd and the cover has snakes. So I expected an odd story. But the story was actually a good one. Sometimes people marry and it just doesn't work out. And sometimes it is just a ploy to get rich quick. The story is full of twists, turns and revelations. I enjoyed the book.

Well, this book is just a fun ride. Between the nick names for the two main characters, to how truly twisted both of them really are. This is a book that that is fast paced and it will keep you wondering really what is happening throughout. Readers will get swept up in world where everything is not what it seems and the layers of deceit run deep.
Thank you to Luke Gracias and Netgalley for allowing me to read a copy of this title

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley. I wasn't familiar with the author but I liked the title. I loved the book! I would make take 1/2 star off because it got a little slow with the details of the scam. I loved the characters. Lindsay-Dogboy-was strange from the start. I could see him as a loner computer geek, but the way dogs reacted to him was totally amazing. Kath-Catfish-was the perfect devious easy-to-hate female lead. She had no redeeming qualities. I couldn't wait for bad things to happen to her. The two lawyers were good lawyers, trying to do the right thing, as were the two detectives. I think the detectives were as confused by the scam as I was. The plot was intriguing. From the day influencer Kath married Lindsay-her second husband after her first "committed suicide"-she was planning her divorce. In 18 months she would be entitled to half their assets plus support. While she was waiting she had her own laundering scam going to bring in more money. When the detectives went to Thailand you got excitement, subterfuge, and danger. With Kath being an influencer, the power of the internet came into play. It showed how the masses will fall for most anything. The afterword by the author brought meaning to the book. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and hope to read more by Lucas Gracias.

Special thanks to the author and NetGalley for a free, electronic copy of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
“Dogboy v Catfish” is the newest novel by author Luke Gracias and it is very, very different from his previous novel series (“The Devil’s Prayer”, “No Shadow Without Light”). His previous novels had a creepy, paranormal vibe and although “Dogboy” was unsettling, it was for entirely different reasons.
Katherine Fisher (“Catfish”) lost her first husband to suicide years ago. Now, she is looking to settle down again with successful (i.e., rich) businessman Lindsay Kramer, a.k.a “Dogboy”. Katherine knows that after eighteen months of marriage, she will be entitled to everything Lindsay has, which will then allow Katherine to file for divorce and feel confident in the lifestyle she can provide for herself and her daughter, Emma. But just weeks into their marriage, Lindsay disappears and Katherine sees her future slowly disappearing. As Katherine scrambles to try and get her hands on her husbands’ assets as quickly as she can the police quickly discover that Katherine has many reasons for wanting her husband dead- and she is soon the prime suspect.
The novel starts off with an investigation into the missing Lindsay. The two investigators interrogate Katherine and instantly see that something is not quite right. Then, the second portion takes an entirely different track and we follow the police as they try and uncover a counterfeit products ring. This section was quite detailed, exploring the how’s and what’s of the production, shipping and importation of counterfeit high-end products. It is relevant to the story, and eventually we figure this out, but at the time it seemed to be completely off-track and I wasn’t sure where Gracias was going with the plot line. The final part of the novel ties it all together and finally, the Lindsay plot line is re-examined. “Dogboy” has a conclusive and satisfying ending, but it took a heck of a convoluted path to get there.
Katherine is an unlikable character but she was written that way. Although Lindsay is not featured in the novel all that often, his relationship with dogs speaks to the nature of his character. I was curious as to what exactly happened to Lindsay, and I cared enough about him to follow Gracias’ plot detours and get to the end.
“Dogboy” is based on events that happened to a friend of Gracias’, so there is a sense of realism with the plot, and it is obviously well-researched. I wanted more Lindsay, less fake Gucci bag production tips. This is the third novel I’ve read by Gracias, and I always appreciate when he sends his newest work my way.

Dogboy v Catfish by Luke Gracias was an unexpected, surprisingly good read. Initially thrown by the title, the story itself offers something for every reader. While dog whisperer Lindsay (Dogboy) Kramer apparently marries Katharine (Catfish) Fisher for love, Manipulative Katharine marries with a plan to divorce Lindsay in 18 months in order to get access to his money, following the Australian divorce laws of the time. However, when Lindsay goes missing an investigation ensues, uncovering secrets long-buried. I am always searching for unique storylines, and this book is definitely unique. It is a suspenseful mystery with love-to-hate characters, It was a great escapist read by an author I intend to follow.

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced digital copy. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

Initially I thought this book was going to be quite enjoyable, starting with a flashback which introduced six young Australian students. Fast forward twenty years or so and one of these students has mysteriously disappeared. His wife (not one of the original six) is attempting to access his assets but the family lawyer she approaches (one of the six) refuses to take the case.
The police are sidetracked from the search for the missing person and the plot becomes a rather tangled expose of corruption via fake designer handbags, money laundering, drug and arms smuggling and the porn industry. I found the storyline weak and the characters underdeveloped.
The author writes in a note at the end that the book is 'about the few (divorcees) who set out to abuse the system.
I found the book tended towards the misogynistic in places.

This is a moderately engaging police procedural.

The blurb is so concise that I’ll repeat it here:

“The police investigation into Dogboy's disappearance leads them into the dark world of counterfeit designer goods, money laundering, and drug smuggling. With Dogboy's assets frozen and the mob protecting their interests, the missing persons case escalates to homicide. Catfish is in a race against time to get hold of Dogboy's assets before the police get hold of her. One question remains - is Dogboy dead or alive?”

Yes. That’s exactly what happens. Nothing more. Nothing less.

The plot holds together, but there are no real surprises, and each chapter just felt like turning the handle to move one step further towards the end. The perfunctory writing style added to this same of trudging through the book - often seeming like a checklist of activities that each character needed to be doing. Some randomly spurious details thrown in from time to time: “Sabina had her Canon DSLR with the 400 mm zoom pointed across the street” (the only relevance here being that it was a camera) - perhaps this was the author’s attempt to inject more realism, but it just felt like padding to me. The characters were distinct, but lacking depth.

So… engaging enough for me to get to the end - that’s all.

Thank you #NetGalley and the author for the free review copy of #Dogboyvcatfish in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Dogboy v Catfish is the third novel by Indian-born Australian author, Luke Gracias. When fintech entrepreneur Lindsay Kramer (Dogboy to his friends) fails to return from a business trip to Sydney, Instagram influencer and Melbourne designer boutique owner, Katherine Kelly Fisher (aka Catfish) assumes her husband has just extended his stay, as he often does. When the police get in touch to tell her that he’s now regarded as a missing person, it puts a bit of a dent in her long-term plans.

Kath was waiting for the eighteen-month mark in their marriage to file for divorce, aware that the milestone would entitle her to claim half of their combined assets as a settlement for herself as well as maintenance for her seven-year-old daughter, Emma. She tried to engage Freya Keogh, the family law specialist dubbed the “10% dragon”, but something about Katherine’s claims didn’t sit right with Freya, so she returned the massive retainer.

Left behind in Lindsay’s hotel room were his mobile phone and laptop, his last cryptic message sent to Freya Keogh, and a last early-morning sighting after leaving the casino, for DI Bernard Stavropoulos all point to possible foul play, but without a body or cause of death, he is left with trying to discover a motive. He hands the case over to his Melbourne colleague, Detective Inspector Sabina Green.

When Lindsay is reported missing, Freya contacts her corporate law colleague, Lindsay’s good friend Michael Kaynes, sharing, in strictest confidence, her encounter with Katherine. Michael reveals that, three months earlier, Lindsay hade made him executor of his will, and confessed his suspicions about his wife: “Kath sold my heart a story I so badly wanted to believe. I ignored all the warnings. I have been scammed.”

What seems to be a straightforward marriage breakup tale with the wife living up to her nickname, soon thereafter morphs into a riveting tale that features international designer goods fraud, money laundering, drug dealing and murder. Catfish uses her social media influence to help get her hands on Lindsay’s hard-earned money. Does she succeed?

Dogboy, Lindsay Kramer is an enigmatic character who has a special affinity for dogs as well as a talent with gambling, and IT, and a strong sense fairness. The blurb is a little misleading as not even the most naïve reader will wonder if Lindsay is dead. The clever plot certainly ensures that this is a page-turner, but the writing lacks polish: the dialogue a bit stiff at times, and Gracias neglects to show rather than tell. Nonetheless, this is gripping Aussie crime fiction.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and the author.

Unusual thriller!

Wow! Multilayered, unusual and thoroughly engaging story about a rather different man’s journey and those he pulled along with him. This Australian crime/mystery/noir novel was just so unusual. It’s a real page turner.
Four people who’d been students together at Melbourne University are pulled back together again after one of them, ‘Dogboy’ Lindsay Kramer goes missing.
His wife, Katherine Kelly Fisher ‘Catfish’ walks into a family lawyer’s chambers. Freya Keogh is known for her merciless divorce settlements. Katherine is seeking help to divorce her husband. Katherine doesn’t know that Keogh knew Lindsay when she was a student.
Keogh feels right away that something is off.
A month later Katherine decides not to go ahead with the separation. The catch? Lindsay has disappeared. Further reveals show that Katherine’s former husband Darren Berrington had died unexpectedly whilst on a trip to Bangkok.
Two members of Crime Command Victoria, Inspector Sabina Green and Detective Karl Finlay investigate. After many false starts and hours of working blind things start to make some sense.
The story revolves around the endless knot of three headed snakes intertwined and representing three aspects of crime. Grab the right head and the knots unravel.
The three prongs here are drug smuggling, money laundering and high quality knock of designer goods.
The action moves between the wife and her associates, the former friend of ‘dogboy’, and the police inquiry.
This was a mesmerizing read. I enjoyed ever moment of it. Surprises kept being thrown in at the right moment, along with unexpected shocks. Absolutely loved it!

A Luke Gracie’s ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

DNF 15%
I picked this book up because the storyline sounded intriguing and the storyline IS intriguing, however the execution did not work for me, perhaps I would have felt differently if I had finished but I wasn’t invested enough to make myself.

I found the characters lacked depth which I think was because the narrative tells the reader how to feel rather than the reader being able to pick up those feelings from the dialogue, the lack of depth meant I just didn’t connect. Basically I can see loads of people loved this book but it just wasn’t my cup of tea.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book has everything from divorce to counterfeits and the mafia.

I felt this book differed from other thrillers in that it had outlandish elements that were fun to read.

I don’t know how I would categorise this book because it was fun, witty and deep in equal amounts.

Fantastic.

thank you for the advanced copy of dogboy v catfish.....it was totally entertaining.....i would like to see the police characters in another book again ,maybe......./there was mystery and suspense, some comedy.......and i just overall liked reading this book....i really enjoyed the descript4ions of bangkok and the markets and malls there.... i will be lookig for another book by luke gracias

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. It was very different from the author's previous books, it was fast paced and kept me guessing all the way through. I will be recommending this book to everyone I know.

Thanks so much NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book. This is such a great book. I love the concept of planning to get all of your husband’s money. It leads to fake designer goods, the mob, and frozen assets. It’s tricky getting the money when you can’t find it. The way you go about it can vary from person to person. This book would be a great book for book club. Read this and enjoy!

I really enjoyed this book! I wouldn’t necessarily categorize it as literary fiction, but it does check all the boxes of a well written crime novel. The pacing was great and kept me turning the page. Catfish was the perfect villain you loved to hate. She was utterly repulsive from the first time we met her and I kept reading just to see her get her comeuppance, which was very satisfying. I think Dogboy needs his own book because he was such an elusive, interesting character I’d love to learn more about. I enjoyed Gracias’ style so I’ll be checking out more of his work.

I was intrigued by the title but this felt like a story created to fit it. There were some interesting points around the Australian marital laws and how the large market in counterfeit goods, drug smuggling and money laundering works.
Overall the plot was poor and the final chapters unnecessary.

The story's beginning as it fleshes out the characters was fairly interesting, particularly Dogboy. Would have loved to delve into his story! Instead, we focused on Catfish, and her shallow personality and greed. The tale then wanders off the rail taking the reader on an overly complicated explanation of high end designer bag fraud and money laundering. A very unsatisfying and bizarre conclusion completes a disappointing story.
2 stars

I was approved for this title by the author and Netgalley but though I requested it several times, I did not receive it from them. Fortunately, I found it listed on Kindle Unlimited.

And this novel is a doozie! I was pleased that in the Afterward, the author acknowledged that the character of Catfish is not that of your basic divorcee. Indeed, Catfish is most rare. Because Katherine Kelly Fisher, better known as 'Catfish', is obviously a very greedy golddigger from her introduction in Chapter 2. We have no idea of the depths of her greed in the beginning, but Luke Gracias will fill us in as we go along. I couldn't help but have growing sympathy for her husband Lindsay Kramer, nicknamed 'Dogboy' in college, and Katherine's 9-year-old daughter, Emma. I did greatly underestimate the intelligence and self-protective instincts of Dogboy however. Please, sit back and watch this debacle unfold. It's quite a trip!

REVIEWED on November 15, 2023, at Goodreads, AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, and BookBub. Not available for review on Kobo.

That was so different, I don't know where to begin!

Okay, so the premise is that an Australian man, also known as Dogboy, suddenly disappears one day. He was called Dogboy by his friends because of an incident that took place 16 years ago while they were in college. In the present, we are introduced to his wife, who we know from the start is a gold digger and not that nice a person. The story unfolds as Dogboy's friends from college come back into the picture and try to figure out what has happened to their friend, while at the same time trying to figure out what his wife is up to.

That's all I'm going to say because I want this story to unfold naturally for you. The story moves back and forth in time as needed, and while we suspect his wife from the very beginning, we don't know what we suspect her of. In some ways this story reminded me of a Leverage episode, where the good guys work together to target a particular set of bad guys and bring them down.

This story mentions suicide and the fact that 7 out of 9 suicides in Australia are men, as well as the laws that seem to favor wives and children over husbands when it comes to divorces. While this is rather refreshing from an American's point of view, the fact is that there are those who will always try to take advantage of the system. I think the author wanted to make this point, but he also happened to tell a good tale while he was at it. I honestly cheered along with the good guys and I loved the last chapter, which felt like a bonus.

I am so glad I discovered this book on Netgalley. It was the cool title and the title that caught my eye, but ultimately, it was the well-told tale that made me really enjoy it!

I received an advance review copy for free from Netgalley and the publisher, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Very cleverly written story and plot. Different from anything I have previous read. Absorbing and interesting. The title was intriguing to me as were the chain of events. Action packed. Thank you NetGalley and Luke Gracias for the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.