Hey Cool Cats! Today we will be reviewing the second book in Alexa Windsor’s Dog Walking Mystery Book series, Hot Diggity Dog! What did this mystery have to bring to the table?
This story revolves around April Gladdis continuing in the dog walking business (from the previous book, All Bite), alternating her career choices, and a worried family and boyfriend after the first murder mystery incident. After arriving late to a dog walking appointment, she finds another mystery to unravel! With her best friend on her side, pushing her and the story along, and a rival Dog Walking business hinting at what is to come, April jumps in on a fiery new mystery!
Let’s first look at the story. It lays out a few bits and pieces of the mystery but focuses more on April’s point of view. This way the reader can experience what April is experiencing and try to put the pieces together, which is easier this time compared to the last mystery. What is different about this story, is that April is more of an observer rather than being at the center of the mystery. In the previous story she was in the center of a murder while now she is watching a possible crime happen and tries to find clues and piece together what is going on behind closed, fiery doors.
The story was very slow placed up until the end. April debated on whether or not to be a part of the mystery but her friend pulls her along into it. The mystery was easy to put together but added a twist in the end. Not a story that would make this kitty purr but definitely worth a read!
Now let’s look at some characters. What I did enjoy, was that the story introduced a new character that sheds some light on what is happening. This character appears to just be passing by until a little more is revealed about them.
April’s boyfriend tries to discourage her from investigating the fires plaguing her clients while her family worries and becomes a little over protective of her safety, for good reason. This is all that we see of them and as much as they do.
April’s friend is struggling with her own issues which leaves her out of the story for a while until near the end where they rekindle their friendship and it moves the story, and April, along.
Finally, how does the previous book compare to the first? The first book, All Bite, starts off with a good pace to the story and immediately begins with a murder for the mystery. This immediately pulls the reader in and puts them in April’s tense and curious shoes as to what is going on. Hot Diggity Dog starts off very slow, until the end. Bits and pieces are left out for the reader to figure out what is going on but no major events (such as a real fire) starts until the very end of the story. So how do the stories truly compare? It depends on the reader. The first book does a good job pulling the reader in and keeping them there while the second book’s focus is more laid and dragged out to build the mystery and the story for later books.
Overall the series was pretty good. Not much is known about the new characters, but hopefully they will be coming back in future mysteries! . April also has a new living situation which may indicate a set up for the next story! The lack of mystery compared to the first is a little disappointing, but the set up at the end has me looking forward to the next installment!
