Bowser and his girl, Birdie Gaux, normally live a happy and carefree life. Now, though, there's been a breakin at 19 Gentilly Lane; the smell of limeade aftershave and cat is all over the side of the house belonging to Bowser, Birdie, and Mama; Mama has lost her oil rig engineering job; a strange young woman with green hair is asking odd questions about the death of Birdie's father, years ago, in New Orleans; and a man who smells of limeade aftershave and cat is showing a lot of interest in Mama.

Birdie's dad's death has been a cold case for a long time, but maybe now it isn't, anymore. Why is it suddenly heating up again? And why are Bowser and Birdie the only ones noticing?

Birdie's not too impressed with Vin Pardo, the new guy suddenly interested in Mama, nor is Gran. Bowser's the only one, though, who knows he's the intruder who broke into the house, and tore Mama's room apart looking for something he didn't find.

Meanwhile, there's the other breakin across town, at the Richelieu home. When Bowser and Birdie go there to see if it was the same as the breakin at their house, they meet the Richelieus, including their teenage son, Preston, who, like his parents, is an arrogant jerk. They also discover that his mother, Minerva Richelieu, is for some reason carrying a pearl necklace in her purse. This becomes very interesting when they learn from the sheriff's son, Rory, that Mrs. Richelieu has reported the pearls stolen in that breakin.

There's also, of course, the green-haired girl and her questions, and the owner of the campsite she's staying at. He's running for sheriff against the incumbent, and his claim to dislike children and dogs doesn't give Bowser or Birdie a good impression of him initially. But when the green-haired girl disappears, things happen that cause Birdie to suspect he might be smarter than the current sheriff.

There's a lot of stuff going on, and much confusion because our chief investigators are a dog--a smart dog, but a real dog, with a dog's nose and ears, but also a reasonable approximation of a real dog's reasoning ability--and an eleven-year-old girl, very smart, but lacking in adult experience. They muddle through, though, and never give up, and find their way through to the end.

It's a lot of fun and very satisfying. One of the things I love about Spencer Quinn's books are his dogs, who are very real and convincing dogs. That's something most dog-narrated books don't achieve, and it makes Quinn's books something special.

Recommended.

I bought this audiobook. ( )

This delightful mystery was written by Spencer Quinn, who pens the Chet and Bernie mystery series, and like that series, it is told from the point of view of the dog. Bowser is just as lovable as Chet though probably not quite as bright. But what Bowser lacks in smarts, he makes up for in fierce loyalty to Birdie, his 11-year-old owner. In this tale, a new acquaintance of Birdie’s seems to have some connection to Birdie’s father’s murder years before. Before it can all be sorted out, the new friend herself is murdered, and Birdie is caught up in trying to tie it all together. Bowser has his paws full trying to keep Birdie safe, and he gets some help from an unexpected source. This is an exciting and charming story, intended for children, but can be enjoyed by all ages. The audio version is well performed by James Frangione and is highly recommended. ( )

BOWSER AND BIRDIE novels are a mystery series by Spencer Quinn.
Told from the perspective of a dog living in the swampland of Louisiana with a girl and her family, each title features a mystery that threatens Bowser and Birdie.
WOOF introduces a dog named Bowser and the girl he lives with, Birdie Gaux. The first detective story focuses on a stolen stuffed marlin.
ARF features a house break-in that may be connected to the death of Birdie’s father.
In the latest book titled BOW WOW, Bowser and Birdie are immersed in a mystery surrounding to a shark and a missing fisherman.
Librarians will find this sweet dog mystery series to be well received by children who enjoy detective stories and dog adventures. Children will enjoy the effective balance of suspense and humor. Recommend the series to children looking for a different approach to mystery stories.
Published by Scholastic. ARC courtesy of the publisher. ( )

Arf is a book told from a dog's perspective. It is the second in the series by Spencer Quinn. The mystery involves Birdie, a 12 year old girl, and her dog Bowser. I found the book confusing and a little disturbing, especially for this age group. There is a murder in the middle of the story so I would hesitate to recommend this book to sensitive readers. ( )

Very cute! Good mystery! Wonderful voice in the dog! I really think that Spencer Quinn has captured the mind of a dog in a most entertaining way. Very enjoyable for all ages. ( )