b"books, movies, music & more.REVIEWS OF DOG-THEMED BOOKS, MUSIC & FILMTENDER IS THE BITEis wrong, make it right, whether hired and paid or not.A Chet & Bernie Mystery From here on in, a powerful politician with a lot to lose, aBy Spencer Quinn lovable ferret and two women with harrowing tales, com-Published by FORGE, 2021 bine with a veritable host of serial losers, to make this aBOOK REVIEW BY STEVE COOKE compelling and irresistible case for our duo to sink theirteeth into.DOES CHET TALK TOO MUCH? Its a great ridewith or without the Porsche.Or does he just have a lot to say?It can be terribly lonely being the smartest dog in the room, Spencer Quinn is the penbut Chet doesnt mind. Because Bernies always the smartest name of Peter Abrahams,human in the room, making them collectively, a pair to be an Edgar Award winnerreckoned with, if you know what I mean. What I mean (for and author of The Newthose who dont get it), is that the York Times and USA TodayLittleDetectiveAgencyisway bestselling Chet anda-headof(getit?twoheads!) Bernie mystery series.everyonewhenitcomesto Abrahams is shown heresmarts. No pun intended. with his dog Audrey.A working dog if there everwas one, Chet brings his A game JONATHAN UNLEASHEDwhenever he senses his partner in By Meg Rosoffcrime-solving,BernieLittle, Published by VIKING, 2016needsalittle(punintended) BOOK REVIEW BY ANNA COOKEnudge. In Tender Is The Bite, author COULD A BORDER COLLIE AND A COCKERSpencerQuinnturnsanother- SPANIEL HOLD THE KEY TO LIFE? wisenormaldriveinrushhourtraffic,intoChetand Jonathan, a young advertising copywriter living in a tinyBernieslatestadventure,thoughmostofusprobably apartment in New York City, is about to find out when hiswouldntconsiderbeingstuckinaPorsche'normal,' brotheraskshimtolookafterwhether in rush hour or otherwise, but thats another story. his two dogs, Sissy and Dante.Bernie, who is driving, or creeping along at walking speed Well, at least he lives across theas Chet puts it, glances at the rearview mirror and casually streetfromCentralPark,thementions to Chet that he thinks theyre being followed. biggestdogparkintheworld.Turns out, Bernie was right of course, but its what hap- The City plays a big role in thepens next that makes this story catch fire at this point and story, as much as the main char-sizzle to the end. After a series of maneuvers designed to actersdo,whocontinuetolure the follower into revealing their identity or at least their developthroughoutthestory-intent,ayoung,ponytailedwomansuddenlyparksher line, as new characters are intro-maroon Kia in front of them. As Chet and Bernie approach duced into Jonathans life.herrolleddownwindow,theysensefearand He believes his life is com-indecision.and then she is gone.fleeing in panic without ing undone, from a crazy boss to his girlfriend, who wantsleaving a trace.or a name. to marry someone just like himonly richer and with aTechnically, shes not a client, so why give it a second different sense of humor. Jonathan also believes Sissy andthought, you might ask? Au Contraire my friend, for that is Dantedontapproveofhislifestyleandthattheytalkantithesis to our heros modus operandi: When something behind his back62THE NEW BARKER www.TheNewBarker.com"