They've got a lot of leads, but can they collar a killer? A funny, delightfully twisty murder mystery pairing the nation's favourite genre with man's best friend!
When Charlie Boardman and his beloved Staffy, Ruby, stumble across a corpse in the woods, the sleepy coastal town of Framstone is rocked by the discovery that the local pub landlord has been murdered.
Charlie and his fellow dogwalkers take it upon themselves to try and sniff out any clues that might help the local police with their investigation.
But what begins as idle speculation and gossip quickly becomes something more sinister, when Charlie starts receiving anonymous threats warning him off the case.
Then, a second body washes up on the beach…
Can Charlie hunt down a killer, before he becomes the next victim?
About the Author
Michael Hogan is a writer and editor with a 30-year career in journalism. As a freelance writer for the past 12 years, he’s been TV critic for the Telegraph and written for the Guardian, Observer, Radio Times, Red, Q, Empire, Marie Claire, Grazia, Glamour, InStyle, Esquire, ES and You magazine.
Michael now writes mainly about TV and pop culture, but also turns his hand to lifestyle pieces, topical comment, celebrity interviews and humorous articles. He lives in London with his family and a rescue dog called Ivy. To escape them all and get some work/procrastination done, he commutes to a shed at the bottom of his garden. The Dogwalkers' Detective Agency is his debut novel.
Industry Reviews
What a joy The Dogwalkers’ Detective Agency is – once I began reading it I just couldn’t put it down, and upon reaching the end I longed to rush straight out and start solving murders. Funny and ingeniously plotted, this is a terrific debut from Michael Hogan
Jill Mansell
So good and so twisty. I raced through it
Sarah Phelps, BAFTA-winning screenwriter of the BBC's Agatha Christie adaptations
Michael Hogan is a hilariously funny writer, and this is a total treat
Jenny Colgan
Subtle, absorbing and bursting with rambunctious, tail-wagging charm. Hogan balances digressive, deliciously playful humour with a dark, poignant edge. In Framstone – the fictional seaside town that is arguably the story’s most beguiling character – he has created a setting that feels so tactile and well-realised that you can practically smell the ripe surf. I was grinning and gripped from the very first page, already thinking of the many doting dog parents and crime aficionados that I wanted to buy a copy for
Jimi Famurewa
I was hooked by this witty, warm and hugely characterful debut. In Charlie Boardman, Michael Hogan has created a protagonist you want to hang out with; in the mystery he stumbles into solving, a twisty and compelling conundrum. But there's more to this debut than canine capers and pithy puns - the pacey, buoyant prose deftly conceals a darker, spikier undercurrent
Jessica Ruston, author of The Lies You Told Me
I couldn't stop devouring the pages here, packed with such warmth, fun and breezy humour. A pacy tale brimming with heart and a bewildering murder mystery that bring these small-town dogwalkers together. An utter pleasure from start to finish
Fiona Gibson, no. 1 bestselling author of The Woman Who Got Her Spark Back
This sweet, big-hearted novel is like The Thursday Murder Club With Dogs. I horsed through it and found it hugely uplifting. The friendship between the characters is beautiful, and I LOVE the protagonist Charlie. It really kept me guessing - and oh my God, that final FINAL twist! I need more!
Marian Keyes
A delight for lovers of cosy crime, and a must for all lovers of a good mystery involving dogs!
Peter James
Funny, big-hearted, cosy but never comatose, The Dogwalkers’ Detective Agency is an absolute must-read for all dog lovers - and even you strange cat people too!
Mike Gayle
A heartwarming, satisfying page-turner with a delicious final twist that made me gasp
Daisy Buchanan
Funny, fast-paced and fiendishly clever. A fabulous book that'll keep you guessing right to the end
Matt Dunn, the half-a-million copy bestselling author of The Ex-Boyfriend's Handbook
Brilliant - I inhaled it. I love dogs and I love detectives. This is actually my dream book
Claudia Winkleman
Charming, big-hearted, and with a gigantic twist. But frankly, you had me at dogs
Jojo Moyes
A fiendishly entertaining, utterly more-ish murder mystery that'll knock you off your feet with its charm
Julia Raeside, journalist and author of Don't Make Me Laugh
Wit, charm, warmth and dogs - what more could you want from a cracking whodunnit?
Lucy Mangan
This very clever mix of cosy crime and dark whodunnit makes this the ideal escape for autumn
Stylist
The Dogwalkers’ Detective Agency is that great reading experience of ‘oh lovely, I’m in a cosy world with some characters I’m very invested in’ which then migrates without you quite realising it’s happening to ‘oh hello, we’re in big twist territory and this is actually a great, well-plotted crime novel.’ Also though (and most importantly): extremely pleasing for anyone who loves a pun
Caroline Corcoran
Though I was expecting dogs and crime, what touched me most was how it captured the power of unlikely friendships. I loved the way a shared love of animals brought together a Motley Crew of sorts...I loved getting to know this cosy community; it had all the mystery of Broadchurch with the heart and togetherness of Motherland
Rose Gallagher, journalist and beauty content creator
Witty
Crime Monthly
Clever, charming and as twisty as a string of sausages stolen from a butchers by a Staffy
Adam Kay
[A] smashing debut novel. Hogan is a witty journalist, and his warm, waggish tale of a group of murder-solving canine owners in the sleepy coastal town of Framstone is ideal for a dog-loving book lover
Independent
Love The Thursday Murder Club? Love dogs? This is the crossover for you
Grazia
If you loved The Thursday Murder Club, this cosy crime novel is paw- fect
Sun
Cosy crime has a lively new voice (and a nose for mystery). If you love dogs, are fond of a yarn and enjoy a good mystery, this debut will make for a satisfying autumnal read
Telegraph
This charming crime caper...is a breath of fresh air. An effortless, engaging read
Mail on Sunday
This delicious slice of cosy crime is perfect for dog lovers!
Woman's Weekly
This slice of cosy crime is perfect for anyone who loves dogs, or detecting!
Woman
Cosy crime takes a delightfully fresh turn with this striking debut...If you like Richard Osman's books , you will love this
Daily Mail
