A Cat Was Involved

By: Spencer Quinn

Narrated by: Jim Frangione

Length: 52 mins

Publisher's Summary

Spencer Quinn’s first original audio short story reveals how everyone’s favorite detective duo - Chet the Dog and P.I. Bernie Little - came to meet before their first big case in Dog On It. As fans know, Chet first met Bernie on that fateful day when he flunked out of K-9 police school. The details of that day, though, have always remained a little vague (like so much in Chet’s doggy brain). All we know is that Chet had been the best leaper in his K-9 class, but for some reason he failed his final leaping test...and that a cat was involved...and that there was some blood. But whose?

The test, the cat, the blood - all pieces of a puzzle that, when solved, will bring down a dangerous gang of thieves - and signal the start of a beautiful friendship. This fateful day has been alluded to in every book in the series, and now fans of Chet and Bernie will finally get to find out what actually happened. For these two beloved characters, it was something like love at first sight - and, for Chet, at first smell, too.

©2012 Spencer Quinn (P)2012 Recorded Books

Chet, do you know the word "serendipity"?

Great story for all those who love Chet and Bernie. I can't decide if it is best read after several of the full-length books or first. Perhaps after.

Ah, Chet, and what if that cat had not been there? Silver linings and all that.

Jim Frangione, can you come be my dog?

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

The perfect dog loves mam story

Hilarious and touching, Chet the Jet is the story teller. His short term memory problem interferes at times, but he is blithely unaware. The last line is the ultimate declaration of dog love-though completely unsentimental. Anyone else want to form a Chet fan club?

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Messed up timeline.

Since I started the Chet and Bernie mysteries I've been wanting to find out how Chet flunked out of K-9 school and met Bernie for the first time, this is the tale.

It's a good story, however, Chet has mentioned "the Leda days" many times in reference to eating lipsticks and the like and how the only time he'd ever seen Bernie cry was when she came and took all of Charlie's things away after the divorce. In this story Bernie is already divorced. I don't like to nitpick and I didn't really want Leda in it but I feel like it's kind of a big goof. Just a warning to all you nitpickers out there.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Too short

Didn't realize it was a short story but I always enjoy Chet and Bernie's adventures.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Read this first -- should be Book #1

STORY (short) - I've listened to one other Chet and Bernie mystery, one somewhere in the middle of the series. The stories stand alone so you can do that. Anyway, this story tells how Chet and Bernie first meet, so in my opinion it should be Book1 instead of just slapped at the end as a little short story.

Anyway, this book is okay but nothing special, and it might give you an idea of whether you want to hear more of the series. Based on the two books that I've read, including this one, I've chosen not to continue. The stories are told by Chet the dog and there are some cute doggie thoughts, but the mysteries are too light and simplistic for my personal taste. At any rate, if you're a Chet and Bernie fan, you will probably want to hear this book and see how Chet and Bernie first hook up. Yes, a cat is involved!

PERFORMANCE - good job, nothing special.

OVERALL - Recommended for anyone who likes simple mysteries told in a lighthearted way...by a dog. I would almost recommend for children, except the author tosses in enough cursing that I'd say probably not. No sex and only some mild punching/hitting type violence.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

The beginning how Chet and Bernie met!

Really terrific fun! How Chet and Bernie became a team! It was kismet when they met! Great little story!! I am glad that I actually read this after reading other stories even though it os the start of the team it meant more to me knowing already how great they are together! Well done!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

good fun read

Fun story, just like the full length mysteries. It was great hearing how these two detectives met. Listened with my family, really a good time!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

How Chet flunked canine school!

I can't say much more without spoiling the story... Chet's "dog logic" and Jim Frangione's narration make for another fun listen.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Fun but inconsistent with other stories

It's great to find out that Chet didn't flunk out of canine school just because " a cat was involved". As usual, he was solving a mystery. The wonderful chemistry between Bernie and Chet is established. But in this story, on the day he meets Chet, Bernie refers to his ex-wife. In all the other books, it's clear that Chet was around in the "Leda Days" and when Charlie was little. So I guess it's just that Chet's memory is a little confused. Maybe his first experience of Slim Jims crowded out everything else!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Fun easy listen

Very fun story creative and easy listen. Finished on the way to and back from work. Narrator does an excellent job

1 of 1 people found this review helpful