Dogged Pursuit (Jack and Jamie, 5)

So what is it that is so very appealing about this series? Maybe for me it is the setting- my own adopted state of Maine. Or could it be the characters? Jack Field, ex New York detective, is the owner of a dog kennel/ training business. He is usually in the company of or thinking about Jamie Cutter, the Medical Examiner. Living with Jack is his foster son, 'Duke" a crime victim from NYC. A steady, well written cast of characters traveling from one book to another to make this a cohesive, fun group of books to read. The starring roles though are assigned to the various dogs that populate the scenes. Much space is also given to dog training tips- a system based on play and praise. Kelley writes with his tongue firmly planted in his cheek. He seems to understand that Jack makes Sherlock Holmes seem dense and plots are more interesting when they appear impossible. The asides and comments to the reader draw the casual reader into his world. He cleverly admits that these are just good mystery stories that are enjoyable to read- and what more can we ask from a cozy? (Next step would be a top rated tv show! Anyone out there know any producers..but remember it was my idea first!) Three Hints for reading this series: 1. It is not neccesary to read them in the order written but would be more enjoyable to follow the continuing plot lines in order. 2. Just remember- the dog is always innocent ! (oops- is that a spoiler?) 3. If you do not have a dog when you start the series you probably will by the end! Dogged Pursuit Will Jack and Jamie finally be able to tie the knot? Or will the body found in a local lake ruin their plans one more time? Jack's ex-girl friend's step daughter disappears as the Jack pieces together the trail of danger from her past that threatens her present and may end her chances for a future. (In this book we learn the word snorgle- a snort and giggle)

The best of the series. Full of action and suspense. This is a great series for dog lovers and mystery lovers.

In Maine, ex-detective and popular dog trainer Jack Field is looking forward to getting married to state medical examiner Dr. Jamie Cutler. Trouble comes in the form of his ex-girlfriend Kristen who wants him to find her missing step-daughter, Jen. When a body is found in the water under the dock, Jack as an unofficial assistant to Jamie is there and is relieved it is not Jen. He sees a light across the water and alerts the police who arrest Clay Heenry. Jack recalls a case with the same M.O. and the police ask him to get a confession out of the man who they believe killed twenty-one people including possibly Jen's aunt. Jen witnessed the murder and Henry was supposedly on the campus when she disappeared. Eventually Henry confesses to everything but the number and when Jen sees his picture she says he isn't the man who killed her aunt. Lee Charles Kelley has written an innovative and riveting mystery that takes the hero places he really doesn't want to go but his sense of duty and honor makes him help the police and his girlfriend. Jack's love for dogs is so much I evidence that readers who have dogs of their own that they love will totally understand his character. This author has the knack for intricate plotting and creative storylines starring likable protagonists. Harriet Klausner

In one of those strange publishing scenarios I actually wrote my 5th novel, Dogged Pursuit, before I wrote my 4th, Twas the Bite Before Christmas (which was published in November of last year). How did this happen? Well, I was about 3/4 of the way through Dogged Pursuit when the publishers e-mailed me and asked if the book I was writing could be set at Christmas, to coincide with the November publication date. Could it be all Santa Clausy and stuff? I explained that Dogged Pursuit was a rather somber book in some ways, involving the search for a possible serial killer (though there's also lots of humor and adventure, as always with Jack and Jamie). And that seemed to be the end of it. However, I did have a Christmas story in the back of my mind so I pitched my idea to Avon and they loved it. So some contract issues were switched around (involving the payment of advances and the like), and they allowed me to finish Dogged Pursuit before starting the Christmas book. Then came a fallow period where I had two novels under my belt in the time usually allotted for just one! Months passed with me concentrating on my dog training business (and hammering out a Jack and Jamie short story for the Bark M for Murder anthology), then my editor informed me that it was time to go back over the manuscript for Dogged Pursuit. Uh-oh, I thought. I'd finished that manuscript in kind of a rush. Would it hold up? I'll let you decide on that, but I was quite pleased with the final results. In fact, I think in some ways this is the best book I've written so far. There's a great new character named Peggy Doyle (she's a campus security cop I think you'll really like), a couple of sleazy characters you'll love to hate (including the reapperance of one of the villains from my second novel Murder Unleashed), and a wedding scene that's both hilarious and suspenseful at the same time. I hope you like it!