Table of Contents
Praise for the Dog Walker Mystery Series
Begging for Trouble
McCoy is as adept at creating colorful, compelling characters, two-legged and four-legged, and writing sharply humorous prose as she is at crafting a cleverly constructed plot.
Booklist
Charming and funny.
New York Times bestselling author
MaryJanice Davidson
Death in Show
Author Judi McCoy has once again gone to the dogs, in a very good way! Not only does she present an intriguing mystery with lots of action and a healthy dose of romance; McCoy also gives a very accurate and realistic accounting of the competitive world of dog shows. Dog fanciers and mystery lovers will adore this new addition to McCoys canine tales.
Fresh Fiction
A hilarious, fun-filled story full of eclectic characters and bits of romance.... This venue will keep you in stitches as you can picture in your head the different voices dogs would use to communicate.... If you are a pet lover, this is a must read.
The Romance Readers Connection
McCoy deserves a blue ribbon herself for coming up with such an entertaining paranormal-spiced mystery and then perfectly seasoning the plot with just the right dash of romance.
Booklist
There is nobody quite like professional dog walker Ellie Engleman as she talks to her canines and hears what her four-legged friends have to say.... Readers will enjoy the latest escapades of the heroine... while her dog, Rudy, and her canine clients add amusing antics to the mix.
Midwest Book Review
Ellie is wonderful [and] insightful, and her special way of communicating with her charges makes the reader laugh out loud.
Romantic Times
Heir of the Dog
What a clever, clever series. Rudy is a small dog with a big attitude.... Judi McCoy has done an excellent job with her narrative and the story threads, sewing everything together nicely.
Fresh Fiction
The second book in former romance writer McCoys captivating mystery series is a wickedly entertaining mix of terrific characters, an intriguing plot, sexy romance, and a touch of the paranormal.
Booklist
Humorous and suspenseful... a lighthearted yet intriguing cozy mystery.
Romance Junkies
McCoy brings back professional dog walker Ellie Engleman and her reincarnated pooch with a witty and fast-paced mystery set on New Yorks fashionable East Side. McCoy has a simmering plan of vengeance, peppered with humor, that readers will love.
Romantic Times
Hounding the Pavement
McCoy fills this delightful story with humor, quirky characters, and delicious hints of romance.
Publishers Weekly (starred review)
The crisp writing, humorous dialogue, and delightful characters, both human and canine, all make this book a winner.
Romantic Times
Judi McCoy writes with heart and humor. Anyone who loves dogs or books will have a howling good time.
Lois Greiman
A delightful dogs-eye-view romp through the streets of New York. If youve ever talked to your dog and wished that he would answer back, this is the book for you. Four paws up!
Laurien Berenson, author of
Doggie Day Care Murder
Engaging characters and a cute premise kick off this delightful series. This canine caper will have you begging for more!
Nancy J. Cohen, author of the
Bad Hair Day mystery series
Hounding the Pavement, the first book in the Dog Walker Mystery series, is a treat for everyone, whether a dog lover or not.... Ms. McCoy has written a cozy mystery sure to please.
Fresh Fiction
Also in the Dog Walker Mystery Series
Begging for Trouble
Death in Show
Heir of the Dog
Hounding the Pavement
This book is dedicated to Barbara Noyes, a brave and brilliant woman and an exceptional writer. Thank you, Barb, for all the Spanglish translations, especially because you made certain the Mexican influence was correct. You are my rock.
To the real Arlene Millman, who earned the first character part in one of my books because she showed proof of her sizable donation to Best Friends. She also contributed Ellies astrological chart, which I edited slightly for the epilogue of this story. Arlene doesnt own an African gray, but she does have three adorable Boston Terriers named Corey, Isabelle, and Darby-Doll.
To Best Friends, the largest no-kill shelter in the U.S. The work they do to save Gods creatures is mindboggling. If you havent yet seen Dogtown, their show on the National Geographic Channel, find it and watch it. You will be amazed.
Chapter 1
The man in the next lane just flipped you off. Ellie clenched the cars safety strap in her right hand and clutched the seat belt in her left. I think youre crowding him.
It was the middle of July, and she and her best friend, Vivian, were on their way to Vivs sisters wedding in the Hamptons. Theyd spent the morning at an upscale car rental company, where Viv had demanded a vehicle that screamed expensive, fast, and flashy, whether or not she knew how to drive it.
Yeah, well, he can chill. Im doing the best I can. It was the same response shed given after Ellies last three warnings, and though shed spent the past half hour trying to tame the six-speed BMW M6, Vivs driving skills hadnt improved one iota.
I still say we should have rented our transportation through Zipcar. Their cars are small and they get good gas mileage. We could have gotten a decent sedan for a tenth of what youre paying for this behemoth.
Are you crazy? Viv hit the horn and veered around a stopped bus. Id be humiliated if I showed up at my sisters house in the Hamptons and my family saw me with one of those dinky budget rentals.
We could have taken a helicopter or limo. Navigating this hellacious traffic is like trying to wade through quicksand, Ellie told her as they jerked up to a traffic light.
Since Viv had gotten them out of the parking garage of Royal Luxury Automobile Rentals and onto Fortieth, going east, the bright red BMW had crawled along like a turtle with the hiccups, crowding the far right lane and terrorizing automobiles and pedestrians alike.
A helicopter is just too Billy Joel, Viv answered, peering over the dashboard. And taking a limo means wed be at the mercy of the Hamptons Jitney.
Couldnt we borrow one of your sisters cars? An automatic, maybe?
I want the McCreadys to know I have a successful career, and this baby is the way to show them. She shifted into first, ground into second, and followed the signs for the Queens Midtown Tunnel. Besides, I took all the insurance coverage the company offered. We wont be liable for a penny if we have an accident... or something.
But youve never driven a manual transmission before, let alone a six-speed, Ellie said for the tenth time that morning. Please be more careful.
Vivs driving expertise seemed to dry up once she jammed the car into third gear. After that, shed screech to a stop and slam on the brakes and the clutch to avoid the ass end of a bus. Then shed start all over again, grinding from first to second to third, braking to a stop, and receiving dirty looks from everyone on the street.
