To Fetch a Thief: A Chet and Bernie Mystery (The Chet and Bernie Mystery Series)

Well, this is book three in the Chet and Bernie mystery series and I loved it. I purchased the first book on CD about a year ago because I was looking for an audio book. It had a picture of a dog on the front and a half price sticker; so I bought it. In this "episode" we again get to tag along with Bernie and experience sleuthing from a dog's-eye view. I particularly love how the "voice" of Chet just seems so doglike. Haven't you ever wondered what your dog is thinking? Me too!As a contemporary mystery novel it does not assume that the reader must have everything explained to them. The reader receives the clues (from Chet's perspective) and is given the opportunity to try to puzzle and solve the crime along with Chet and Bernie. To me this aspect of Mr. Quinn's storytelling is very important. In general, I am not much of a mystery genre fan. Mostly, because I hate the fact that the authors feel the need to light up the clues in neon. JUST IN CASE YOU DIDN'T KNOW THIS IS A CLUE. AND THIS IS HOW IT FITS!! It is the difference between a Dan Brown novel (The DaVinci Code) and a Neil Stephenson novel (Cryptonomicon). I would much rather read a Neil Stephenson novel--he expects the reader to think and take note and figure it out along with the characters of the novels. While Dan Brown gives you the clues and then yells them at you like five times just to make sure you got it.In this novel, Chet goes to the circus, learns that an elephant and her trainer have vanished, and the only person that seems to care is a clown called Po-Po. We then are taken along with Chet and Bernie in Bernies old Porche as Chet sniffs his way around snakes, dive bars, small Mexican towns, and even a pastry shop that moonlights as an establishment of "fallen women." ("Whatever that is." Chet says.)There are a series of running plot lines and narratives that wander through all the books so far. For example, Chet is a member of the "Nation Within a Nation", and "our finances are a mess--aaaahhh poor Bernie", "Maybe this case is all about bacon." and "I almost immediately felt a breeze coming from behind and almost as immediately knew it was my tail."The audio CD is again narrated by Jim Frangione. Mr. Frangione has narrated all the books in this series. I love his portrayal of Chet, Bernie, and all the other characters. He does a great job getting the timing right. Just the right amount of what Chet is thinking and doing contrasted with what Bernie perceives that Chet is doing. To be honest, in this recording Mr. Frangione sometimes presents with a speech impediment (lisp?) that I did not notice in the first two books. It isn't constant. But, it is enough that it distracts sometimes from the telling of the story.All in all, I have to give this book a 5 star rating because the book is very well written, humorous, and heart-felt. Mr. Quinn assumes that his readers are intelligent--and I like that.

The Chet and Bernie mysteries continue to be entertaining. This is the third one I've read. Chet is a dog and he's the narrator. The author understands a lot about dogs and that comes through wonderfully in comments like, "He said there were 8 of them, but I can only count up to 2 so I couldn't be sure," and, "He said it smelled wrong but living with him a long time has convinced me humans have hardly any sense of smell." They ride around in an old Porsche Speedster that is in poor condition but runs, and the action takes place in California so the fact it's a convertible isn't a problem. Chet sits up on the passenger seat and takes in the sights and smells as they drive. The background is that Chet washed out of police K-9 school and Bernie got into trouble somehow and had to leave the police force, and now they're in business together. I thought this case had a little more serious violence than was suited to the genre (of course, the author created this genre so it's not proper for a reader to criticize that he didn't write the book I expected). But it's a mystery that keeps you guessing till the last paragraph. You'd think the disappearance of an elephant would be open and shut but trust me -- that happens in chapter 1 and she isn't found immediately.

I can’t stop!! I must admit it. I’m Hooked. Each book in this series is another suspenseful story. With humor and imagination. Love this Dog… Chet the Jet. Never read so many stories told by a Dog. Thank you Spencer. Debra

I do not know if anyone has noticed but most of the best authors, or those that sell the most books,have short names, or use pseudonyms that are short for their written work. So it is withQuinn, the books under his real (legal or birth) sold in small quantities but he hit the jackpot with Chet and Bernie and a one syllable name. Any connection or only a quirk in publishing but thanks for small favors, I enjoyed the Quinn books and hope they continue. So far I have read four and I think "To Fetch a Thief" is the best of the lot. It starts off fast and only speeds up as it goes along. The plot is devious, the characters are well charted and the action is believable, even in Chet's herding of Peanuts. There are a few coincidences, such as the Beau Brummel. roue, womanizer, take your pick appearing in Bernie's periscope at awkward moments (Is he going to tell Leda or Charlie?), and the corrupt Mexican policeman at Bernie's desired ports of call and Chet's herding Peanuts to the concealed storage area, but after all, we do have to have a story, don't we? I could forgive Quinn his indiscretions, the plot was that good and in the scarcely inhabited portions of Mexico people mus come together. A bigger drawbck was this was my third book, I not only got tired of reading Chet's incessant mention of other cases, with the perps all wearing orange prison suits and fit subjects for possible future stories, but Quinn also had Chet repeat his lack of counting ability above two, his color blindness, common to dogs, and his failure to give details on Bernie's financial condition other than to say it was poor but Chet never put the pudding to the proof. Still, small failures, I still enjoyed the book.

This is really a great book. I enjoy how the characters are developing and I definitely love that the series is told from the viewpoint of Chet rather than the viewpoint of Bernie.Chet has a great sense of humor and a totally fantastic outlook for life.More Slim Jims for Chet!

I am thinking of giving up reading about Chet and Bernie. I can't bear any harm to animals and when Chet gets into trouble I get very stressed! Stupid I know, as he manages always to get out of trouble usually having to save Bernie's skin in the process. These books are so well written in terms of humour, plot, characterization. I do find the violence a bit too much (for me) at times.

Yet another lovely easy read staring Chet, the canine half of the detective agency with his human boss Bernie. Look - Chet usually comes up with with truth before the humans, but of course whilst he can tell you, the reader, he can't tell Bernie. As usual, all works out in the end. Again.

Chet is at his very best. The bad guys get their comeuppance and the good guy gets the girl. Oh and chet finds the elephant so happy endings all round and a total hoot all the way through.

The special relationship between one man and his dog is electric. Chet is the dog who knows so much. Great tale.

Just lover Spencer Quinn's Chet and Bernie mysteries - lightweight but from the dog's point of view, such a lot of fun.