Murder Always Barks Twice - Cozy Mystery Review

Goodreads:  Murder Always Barks Twice (Chatty Corgi Mystery #2) by Jennifer Hawkins

Rating:  Liked It
Source:  Publisher

Description: For ex-accountant Emma Reed and her beloved corgi, Oliver, opening Reed's Classic Tea & Cakes in the idyllic village of Trevena in Cornwall has been the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. Her cakes are popular, she has a host of wonderful new friends, and even a potential new romance. There's even time left over for plenty of long country walks with Oliver, who is not only the cutest corgi on record (at least to Emma), he happens to talk (at least to Emma). What could be better?

How about being asked to help cater the local Daphne DuMaurier literary festival?

But when the festival organizer is found dead and foul play is suspected, Emma, Oliver and their friends are plunged deep into a poisonous mix of village jealousy, family tension, money troubles, and secret love affairs. Emma quickly realizes it's up to her and her intrepid corgi to discover a canny killer whose bite is worse than their bark.

Genre: Mystery - Cozy

Why I Picked This Book:  I've read lots of cozies with helpful cats but very few with helpful dogs so I had to pick this one up.  

My Impression: This was a cute read.  I loved the setting, the characters were nice (except for the ones who weren't supposed to be), the food mentions were dreamy sounding, and the mystery was interesting.  I'm not sure I'd want a dog that talks.  While Oliver is really cute every dog I've ever had (most of which were herding breeds) were perfectly able to communicate their thoughts through expression and barks and I'm REALLY sure I don't want  more communication then that!

The mystery was interesting but never fully hooked me.  I think this is a "it's not you it's me" kind of situation as there were no faults I can really point to - more that while I enjoyed it I was never invested enough for this to become a must read series for me.  If the blurb catches your attention I think this is definitely worth a try. 

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?   Probably?  I enjoyed this enough and think there are enough positives that I would probably pick up another book in the series but it's not one I'll search out.

Would I Recommend this Book?  If you enjoy cute cozies with entertaining (and verbal) animal sidekicks I think this one is worth a try.

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *