Fans of Spencer Quinn's Chet and Bernie mystery series know what to expect by now: wry humor, crime-solving smarts, and the occasional detour in pursuit of cats or Slim Jims by canine narrator Chet. The series' 10th installment, Of Mutts and Men, combines these familiar elements with a slightly unusual case: the murder of a hydrologist who may have had valuable information about local water sources. Chet follows the case with Bernie Little, a thoughtful private investigator, through multiple dry washes, while also exploring new territory in Bernie's personal life.
Quinn (Heart of Barkness; A Fistful of Collars) has mastered the art of giving his readers valuable information through Chet's decidedly non-human perspective. The Little Detective Agency, as Chet often notes, is in great shape "except for the finances part," due in some measure to a storage unit packed with Hawaiian-print pants. Chet also observes, though he doesn't always understand, Bernie's interactions with multiple suspects and lawyers (not mutually exclusive), a reconnection with an old flame and a rare congenial afternoon sipping wine with his ex-wife's new husband. All of these clues--plus a midnight detour to Mexico, a small vineyard perched in a strange place and Chet's always-reliable sense of smell--combine to create a twisty, highly satisfying case for Chet and Bernie. (This one might even be lucrative, for a change.) Quinn's fast-paced narration and Chet's fresh, funny take on the human and canine worlds also make Of Mutts and Men a solid entry in this entertaining series. --Katie Noah Gibson, blogger at Cakes, Tea and Dreams