Anyone who appreciates E.J. Copperman’s sense of humor will “lap up” the wit and hilarity in his first Agent to the Paws mystery, Dog Dish of Doom. He combines one-liners, dry humor and a great cast of characters, beginning with the narrator, Kay Powell.

Kay is the daughter of actors, so she understands show business, the performers, the schedules. If she could only deal with her clients, she’d be happy. But, she has to deal with their owners. Kay Powell is an agent for animal performers. Here’s a law school graduate with show business experience herself, and a love of animals. She’s found the perfect dog to star as the new Sandy in a long-running production of Annie. It’s Bruno’s owner who isn’t so perfect. During try-outs, Trent Barclay gets into an argument with the director he considers a hack, Les McMaster. Les hires Bruno, but stipulates that Trent isn’t allowed in the theater. When Trent’s wife finds him face down in Bruno’s dog dish that night, with a knife in his back, that’s no longer a problem. Kay just hopes it’s easier to work with Louise Barclay.

Instead, she finds herself handling an emotionally unstable woman while trying to save Bruno’s career. And, then she’s trying to save Bruno himself. All kinds of people seem to want her to hand Bruno over to them. It’s not that she doesn’t want to give up her commission. She doesn’t want to see the lovable dog in the wrong hands. And, those hands may belong to a killer.

This is a cast of characters made for show business and a hilarious mystery. Kay is the straight man while dealing with her aging parents. Because they’re on hiatus from their jobs on a cruise ship, Kay’s father is auditioning senior performers in her house, while planning his next role – detective to investigate Trent’s murder. And, unfortunately, the brusque homicide detective falls right in with her father, asking for Kay’s help. Show business. Kay Powell knows show business and animals, not crime investigations.

Copperman’s first Agent to the Paws mystery, Dog Dish of Doom, was refreshing and funny. Looking for something entertaining? This is it.

E.J. Copperman’s website is http://www.ejcopperman.com

Dog Dish of Doom by E.J. Copperman. Minotaur Books. 2017. ISBN 9781250084279 (hardcover), 304p.

*****
FTC Full Disclosure – I received the book to review for a journal.