We’re smack in the middle of the Dog Days of summer, so why not read a book (or three) with canine characters. Don’t worry – dogs don’t die in any of these titles.
Dog On It by Spencer Quinn
Chet, the canine narrator, works with Bernie, a down-on-his-luck private investigator. “With his doggy ways and his endearingly hardboiled voice, Chet is full of heart and occasionally prone to mischief. He is intensely loyal to Bernie, who, though distracted by issues that Chet has difficulty understanding-like divorce, child custody, and other peculiar human concerns-is enormously likable himself, in his flawed, all-too-human way.”* Check it out here.
*The Happily Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez
“Two years after losing her fiancé, Sloan Monroe still can’t seem to get her life back on track. But one trouble-making pup with a “take me home” look in his eyes is about to change everything. With her new pet by her side, Sloan finally starts to feel more like herself. Then, after weeks of unanswered texts, Tucker’s owner reaches out. He’s a musician on tour in Australia. And bottom line: He wants Tucker back.”* Check it out here.
The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow
“In a sprawling mansion filled with peculiar treasures, January Scaller is a curiosity herself. As the ward of the wealthy Mr. Locke, she feels little different from the artifacts that decorate the halls: carefully maintained, largely ignored, and utterly out of place.”* It might seem that Bad the dog is doomed, but Harrow has assured his readers that the dog does not die in this book. Check it out here.
The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher
“Alone in the woods with her dog, [a young woman] finds herself face to face with a series of impossible terrors—because sometimes the things that go bump in the night are real, and they’re looking for you. And if she doesn’t face them head on, she might not survive to tell the tale.”* Check it out here.
Jonathan Unleashed by Meg Rosoff
“When his brother asks him to look after his dogs, Jonathan’s world view begins to shift. Could a border collie and a cocker spaniel hold the key to life, the universe, and everything? Their sly maneuvering on daily walks and visits to the alluring vet suggest that human emotional intelligence may not be top dog after all.”* Check it out here.
The Dogs of Babel by Carolyn Parkhurst
“Paul Iverson’s life changes in an instant. He returns home one day to find that his wife, Lexy, has died under strange circumstances. The only witness was their dog, Lorelei, whose anguished barking brought help to the scene – but too late. In the days and weeks that follow, Paul begins to notice strange “clues” in their home: books rearranged on their shelves, a mysterious phone call, and other suggestions that nothing about Lexy’s last afternoon was quite what it seemed. Reeling from grief, Paul is determined to decipher this evidence and unlock the mystery of her death. But he can’t do it alone; he needs Lorelei’s help.”* Check it out here.
Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
“People have been predicting the end of the world almost from its very beginning, so it’s only natural to be skeptical when a new date is set for Judgement Day. But what if, for once, the predictions are right, and the apocalypse really is due to arrive next Saturday, just after tea?”* Featuring a hellhound who becomes exactly the kind of dog “the boy” wants. Check it out here.
*Text taken from publisher’s descriptions via Goodreads.com.