Jack Russell: Dog Detective #1 is

DOG DEN MYSTERY.

When Jack  moves to Doggeroo with his landlord, Sarge, he finds a mystery on his paws. Who is stealing his stuff? Who is making a dog den in a deserted house? Who owns the old boot in Jack's new yard? Jack is soon hot on the trail of a criminal, but what he discovers is entirely unexpected. In the course of his investigations, he meets Lord "Red" Setter, the streetwise Foxie and many other characters who will become familiar friends - and enemies - in the series.

Dog Den Mystery is available as an audio book from Bolinda Audio Books wonderfully read by Alan King. This book is also available in the USA, (under the same title), in the UK (where it is called "Dognapped"), and in Canada, under the title of  "Le Voleur de Bottine".

Chapter One. Meet Jack Russell.

         

 Round and round and round.

The paws are faster than sound.

Round and round, round and round, round and …

           

I was running my ninety-fifth lap of the boring backyard. There was nothing else to do, except sleep in my basket and chase sparrows.

 

Then Sarge came home. ‘We’re getting a transfer, Jack,’ he said.

 

Round and round and … ZOOOOP!

 

I skidded to a stop. I wagged my tail and did the *paw thing. Sarge isn’t the brightest biscuit in the pack, but he knew that meant— Great! Where are we going? Is Auntie Tidge coming?

           

‘Place called Doggeroo,’ said Sarge. He kicked my **squeaker-bone so it squeaked. ‘It’ll make a change from the big city.’

 

He was right about that.

 

Auntie Tidge wasn’t coming.

 

I was sad about that. Auntie Tidge is Sarge’s aunt. She’s a big fan of mine. The day we left, she helped us pack up our things. Then she gave me a big hug.  ‘See you Jackie Wackie.’

 

Auntie Tidge is the only person alive who can call me that.  I slurped her cheek and knocked her glasses sideways. She loves it when I do that.

 

Sarge and I went to Doggeroo in Sarge’s car. While Sarge drove, I checked scents out the window. 

 

 

Jack’s Facts.

Cars have windows. Dogs have noses.

When these things come together, one must be stuck out the other.

This is a fact.

 

While my ears flapped, I made a ***nose map.

 

Jack’s map … 

 

(1)               Pass sausage factory.

(2)               Pass a yard where someone buried a bone last March.

(3)               Turn left near the house where someone ate chops for breakfast.

(4)               Pass a house where three cats live.

(5)               Big dog alert!

(6)               Pass pizza place (consider return trip to check for cheese).

(7)               Turn left near house with three little kids. Just the right age for dropping biscuits.

(8)               Pass porch with old boots.

(9)               Left at empty house. Suspect rats.  Must check later.

 

 

Sarge turned past the empty-house-that-might-have-rats. He drove down two blocks and stopped the car.  ‘Here we are, Jack.’

 

I grabbed my squeaker-bone and jumped out. I landed on an old boot that smelled of dog.

 

 

 

Jack’s Glossary.

 

*Paw thing; up on hind legs, paws held together as if praying. Means pleased excitement.  

** Squeaker-bone. Item for exercising teeth. Not to be confused with a toy.

*** Nose map. Way of storing information collected by the nose.

 

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