‘The Dog Sitter Detective Plays Dead’ by Antony Johnston

Published by Allison & Busby,
23 January 2025.
ISBN: 978-0-7490-3176-3 (HB)

This is the third in Johnstone’s award-winning cosy crime series, featuring mature actress Gwinny Tuffel. Every actress needs an out of work job and Gwinny is a dog sitter. However, often the two overlap, as in this story.

Gwinny is away in the Yorkshire Dales filming a female version of Dracula titled Dracumania. A good friend of hers, who lives near Hendale Hall where the filming takes place, is taken into hospital, so calls on nearby Gwinny to look after Lily, her Jack Russell dog, until she comes home.

Gwinny obliges.

Hendale Hall has run itself into debt, therefore has allowed the listed building to be used for the filming. However, this centuries old castle has its own vampire legend. It is said vampires invaded it many centuries back. Now, it is a large tourist attraction because it needs money for renovations. The owner has also upset the locals by threatening to sell off some of its heritage.

Add to that a Prima donna of a leading lady, who turns up on the film set when she feels like it, and locks herself in her Winnebago when she doesn’t, pushing the filming further behind its schedule, and consequently into debt. Is it any wonder the producer of the film loathes her.

So, when an actor is found murdered, a stake driven through their heart, inside the leading ladies Winnebago, but with the key inside of the door, which is locked, many questions are unanswered – How did the killer escape? Who had this actor upset? Was it as straightforward as a love affair with the leading actress that had riled someone? Enough to kill? And who was the intended victim?

Gwinny has a close friend, an ex- detective from the murder department. As she turns to him to help her solve the mystery, she comes face to face with another problem. Her best friend seems to be dating him. And the Jack Russel, Lily, is causing havoc on the set. So, can Gwinny solve this murder alone, before another one happens? And is Lily really causing mayhem or is she wiser than Gwinny knows.

A very well-plotted mystery, many twists and red herrings. Very well written with A gorgeous dog for a bonus (or should I say Bone-us). I loved it and would recommend to all cosy crime fans and dog lovers.
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Reviewer: Linda Regan

http://www.lindareganonline.co.uk

Antony Johnston is a New York Times bestselling graphic novelist, author, and games writer with more than fifty published titles. The Charlize Theron movie Atomic Blonde is based on his graphic novel The Coldest City. His epic series Wasteland is one of only a handful of such longform achievements in comics. His first video game, Dead Space, redefined a genre.  Antony’s other books and graphic novels include The Exphoria Code, The Fuse, Daredevil, Julius, the Alex Rider graphic novels, Dead Space transmedia comics, and the adaptation of Alan Moore's 'lost screenplay' Fashion Beast.  His video games include Shadow of Mordor, Blackwood Crossing, The Assembly, Dead Space Extraction, Zombiu, and more.  He lives and works in England. 

Linda Regan is the author of nine crime novels. She is also an actor. She holds a Masters degree in critical writing and journalism, and writes a regular column, including book reviews, for three magazines. She also presents the book-club spot on BBC Radio Kent. She is an avid reader and welcomes the chance to read new writers. 

  To read a review of Linda's most recent book
 The Burning Question
click on the title. 

www.lindareganonline.co.k