Dog Treats and Death: A Talking Dog Cozy Mystery, by Carly Winter

 Available August 23, 2023

Although I haven't read anything by Carly Winter before, I quickly felt at home in Gina's world. The set up was nicely done early on, including the advent of Gina being able to talk with her dog, Daisy. We also learn of her childhood, which includes Gina and brother Vic being abandoned with their father when their mother simply left. As such, even while recognizing Vic's tendency to be a "bad boy" and his troubles in the past with the law, she cares about him and wants to help prove his innocence. Seems he's one of the last ones seen with Phoebe, a murder victim, and is Sheriff Mallory's prime suspect. 

Gina is a fun character, one who not only loves dogs but is involved in dog rescue, making me like her immediately. Vic is working on a horse ranch, too, one that has a focus on Arabians and Quarter Horses, so he had that going for him, not to mention one of Gina's rescue dogs immediately takes to him. The other human character that grabbed my attention was feisty Annabelle with her talent for pranks. She seems to be one of the other carry-overs from the Heywood Herbalist series. Gina's dog, Daisy, who has a great sense of smell, was a bit of a hoot. While incredibly brave and helpful at times, Daisy is also pure dog, one that manages to annoy a goat with the expected results. Dog annoys goat. Goat chases dog.  

So, who killed Phoebe? Why was she in the horse arena anyway? Should Gina believe the gossip she's hearing about the ranch owner? What advice does Annabelle give Gina? Why is the Sheriff so quick to assume Vic did it? Why doesn't Gina turn over the evidence she finds? How is Vic able to avoid arrest? Why is Gina suddenly thinking, basically, that she's lost her mind? Does Trevor, the deputy, believe Gina? Is there a potential romance budding? Why is Gina feeling so alone? Who...oh, enough teasers. This was a fun, easy read, so give it a read. My thanks to the author and #BookSirens for introducing me to a new series that I'm definitely looking forward to following. That epilogue already has me primed.