Dog on It

A Chet and Bernie Mystery

By: Spencer Quinn

Narrated by: Jim Frangione

Length: 9 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

Meet Chet, the wise and lovable canine narrator of Dog on It, who works alongside Bernie, a down-on-his-luck private investigator. Chet might have flunked out of police school ("I'd been the best leaper in K-9 class, which had led to all the trouble in a way I couldn't remember exactly, although blood was involved"), but he's a detective through and through.

In this, their first adventure, Chet and Bernie investigate the disappearance of Madison, a teenage girl who may or may not have been kidnapped, but who has definitely gotten mixed up with some very unsavory characters. A well-behaved, gifted student, she didn't arrive home after school and her divorced mother is frantic. Bernie is quick to take the case -- something about a cash flow problem that Chet's not all that clear about -- and he's relieved, if vaguely suspicious, when Madison turns up unharmed with a story that doesn't add up. But when she disappears for a second time in a week, Bernie and Chet aren't taking any chances; they launch a full-blown investigation. Without a ransom demand, they're not convinced it's a kidnapping, but they are sure of one thing: something smells funny.

Their search for clues takes them into the desert to biker bars and other exotic locals, with Chet's highly trained nose leading the way. Both Chet and Bernie bring their own special skills to the hunt, one that puts each of them in peril. But even as the bad guys try to turn the tables, this duo is nothing if not resourceful, and the result is an uncommonly satisfying adventure.

With his doggy ways and his endearingly hardboiled voice, Chet is full of heart and occasionally prone to mischief. He is intensely loyal to Bernie, who, though distracted by issues that Chet has difficulty understanding -- like divorce, child custody, and other peculiar human concerns -- is enormously likable himself, in his flawed, all-too-human way.

©2009 Spencer Quinn (P)2009 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"Dog on It has got more going for it than 50 of those cat cozies ... My sincere advice to you is to rush to your nearest bookstore and put your paws on this enchanting, one-of-a-kind novel." (Stephen King)

Cute and OK.

I bought this book because the premise sounded interesting and because I had listened to, and thoroughly enjoyed, Suspect. That book so thoroughly captivated me that I thought I should give this book, also centered around a dog, a try. But, since that book was so good, I should have expected a bit of a disappointment.

Dog on It is told completely from the perspective of Chet, the dog, and thus offers a bit of a change of view. The writing is decent, the plot is simple, but relatively interesting and viewing the events through the eyes and mind of the dog is cute, at least for the first book. I am not sure the device will remain fresh and interesting through all of the volumes of the series. Chet himself is an interesting character although Bernie and the other humans seemed to lack any real depth as people. The narration is acceptable although there are some unexpected and needless pauses and at times the flow suffers because of those pauses.

The concept of telling the story through the eyes and mind of the dog is cute and the book itself is OK. I am not sure I will listen to the next book in the series because the human characters lack any real interest. That may change as Bernie has met a love interest and their future relationship may add that missing depth to the humans in the book, but at this point the best I can say is that it is cute and OK.

Great For Dog Lovers

Sometimes a book is hard to listen to and maybe even depressing. NOT THIS ONE! Ok so yeah it probably won’t win any literary awards but when was the last time you laughed out loud while listening to a book? I even dreamed about it one night. Seriously!

Narrative is from the dog’s view and his human observations are sometimes hysterical. The reader/performer did an excellent job and the storyline was decent too. It’s all about Chet however! I will say there’s a part that was a bit “down” but it’s only real life and addresses a real problem.

I’ve already bought the second book in the series.

All I know is if I ever get another male dog his name will be Chet!

Cute premise but....

A detective story from the dogs point of view is a fun idea however, the bad guys and the good guy drop a bunch of F-bombs and GD’s, even the dog uses profanity.....seriously???
I’m always saddened when what seems like a fun story has language I’m embarrassed for my grandchildren to hear.
I listened to a few hours but the language just got to be too much.

If you love dogs, then this is a GREAT listen!

Would you listen to Dog on It again? Why?

I loved this book. The story as told through Chet's voice (Chet is the hero and a dog) was absolutely perfect. I am a dog lover and this made me smile, laugh out loud and cry all within a few minutes of listening to this wonderful book. If you have always wondered what goes on in a dogs mind. This might give you a clue.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Dog on It?

The most memorable part of the story for me was when Chet was kidnapped (dognapped). He was tortured (made to go without water) until he submitted to a new trainer. Chet's pride and commitment to his friend and owner would not allow him to submit to the new trainer. He would have rather died. Memorable and thought provoking on so many levels. Chet survives and escapes and becomes a hero in the story... so don't worry our hero lives on.

Which scene was your favorite?

When Chet made friends with a biker gang. Funny and sad but my favorite because Chet had a great time. Also makes me think that you shouldn't judge people or animals based on your perception of who or what you think they are. They just might surprise you!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This book took me on a roller coaster ride of emotions. So yes it made me laugh and cry. Sometimes in the same chapter.

Any additional comments?

If you love dogs this book is great. A great story, but told through the voice of a dog makes it special. You will not be disappointed with this story.

Loved it!

Mystery from a. dog's point of view. Hilarious!!!! Can't wait to be entertained by Mr. Quinn's next book.

Dang! I've GOT to buy EVERY book in this series!😁

Sheer perfection, listeners! Wonderful storyline, awesome characters, and an incredible narrator! I'll add more to this review AFTER I've calmed down! What a great start to a promising series.

This Dog Will Definitely Hunt

Chet and Bernie are detectives at their agency Little Investigations; Little because that's Bernie's last name. Chet is Bernie's partner, his best friend and companion. By the way Chet's a dog; kindly put he's a mixed breed, but he's also one hell of a detective.
The partners take on a missing persons case in the person of 14 year old Madison who everyone but her mother thinks is a runaway. Certainly the girl's father doesn't feel any type of particular urgency concerning his daughter's disappearance. But that's alright because as Chet informs us, they specialize in missing persons cases. Our heroes travel from The Valley to the desert; eventually all the way to New Mexico. Chet is dognapped but makes a daring getaway, narrowly avoiding death. He meets and becomes friendly with a biker gang and enjoys a beer. When the bikers drop him off he narrowly avoids death once again. In the end the bad guys get their comeuppance; the girl gets to go home and all is well with the world; very briefly anyway. A very enjoyable, good time listening experience; even if you're not a dog lover.

Chet Is Awesome

As a pet lover who has owned dogs for a long time, I decided to pick up this mystery as a way to try something outside of SciFi, which is what I listen to the most.

I found myself enthralled by Chet. He's just an awesome dog. As a dog lover, I was taken on a ride with Chet's adventure. He's a loyal, cool dog who, like any dog, can get distracted, but he's a good boy always.

There were a couple of times during the story that I had to pull to the side of the road and listen while gripping the steering wheel tightly because of the suspense, but that only attests to Spencer Quinn's narrative style.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book and any other in the series. It's a great read.

I think the author really does understand the dog.

What about Jim Frangione???s performance did you like?

yes! GREAT

Any additional comments?

The relationship of Chet and Bernie includes that faith that as a child I had in my dog.

Fantastic fun--especially for dog-lovers!

What did you love best about Dog on It?

The story, as told by the dog, Chet. Insights into dog behavior and thoughts. Too funny.

Which character – as performed by Jim Frangione – was your favorite?

Chet!