A Deadly Bone to Pick

Peggy Rothschild

Feb 2022 · Sold by Penguin

About this ebook

When Molly Madison, dog-wrangler extraordinaire, stumbles upon a murder in her new hometown, she must track down a killer to save the day.

Ex-police officer and former P.I. Molly Madison is starting over. After the death of her husband, she and her golden retriever, Harlow, move cross-country to California. But as charming and peaceful as the beachside town seems, she soon learns its tranquil tides hold dark secrets.
 
On her first day in the new house, a large, slobbering Saint Berdoodle wanders in. Molly winds up taking on the responsibility of training Noodle since his owner is too busy to do the job. On one of their daily beachside walks, Noodle digs up a severed hand. Once Molly alerts the police and they run a background check on her, an incident from her past makes her an immediate suspect—after all, Noodle’s testimony to clear her name won’t hold much water in court. 
 
To prove her innocence, Molly must rely on instincts keener than a canine’s to sniff out the real killer. But when Molly’s life is put in danger, will her two very loyal pups be able to rescue her?

Ratings and reviews

A Deadly Bone to Pick is the first book that I have read by Peggy Rothschild. I liked the author’s writing style. It made for an easy-to-read story with likeable characters. I like Molly and her canine companion, Harlow. We also get to meet some of her new neighbors. Noodle is a delight. He adds humor to the story as well as those “ahhhh” moments. Noodle is one clever canine. The author shares information about dog breeds and training as well as agility training. I learned some interesting facts. My dog is part St. Bernard (only drools when food is present) and I learned that he has a nose for scents (explains his tracking ability). The mystery was appealing, but there was not enough of it. I wanted more details and investigation. Solving the whodunit is a snap. I was not a fan of the nasty lead detective (I do not care if he is going through an acrimonious divorce—he should not take it out on Molly). His younger partner is much nicer and easy on the eyes. I loved eight-year-old Ava. She is extremely smart and has parents who are self-involved. Molly and Ava have a lot in common despite their age difference. Molly helps Ava train her dog, Huckleberry. I hope A Deadly Bone to Pick is just the beginning of Molly Madison’s adventures. A Deadly Bone to Pick is a charming new cozy with cute canines, a clever child, a diligent doctor, an exhumed hand, a distressing detective, a perturbing past, and a determined dog wrangler.

About the author

After losing their home during a California wildfire, Peggy Rothschild and her husband moved to the beach community of Los Osos along the central coast. When not at her desk or out walking, you can usually find her in the garden.
 
Peggy is a member of Sisters in Crime National and Sisters in Crime Los Angeles. A DEADLY BONE TO PICK is her first cozy mystery.