By Esri Allbritten
Minotaur Books, $23.99, 288 pages
You just can’t keep a good dog down! When the ghost of Petey the Chihuahua barks, people listen. Author Esri Ellbritten makes her mystery debut with Chihuahua of the Baskervilles, a quirky story about a ghostly dog and a household full of odd characters. Charlotte Baskerville is the wealthy owner of Petey’s Closet, an upscale clothing company featuring outfits for canine fashionistas. When the glowing form of her beloved (but deceased) Petey appears, it is time to call the staff of Tripping, a magazine devoted to destinations of paranormal interest. Mystery fans will thoroughly enjoy this fun take on Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Hounds of Baskerville. Is Petey just visiting or is he involved in a more sinister plot…like murder? Asked to verify the dog’s appearance, the magazine staff travels to Manitou Springs, Colorado and quickly find themselves in the middle of a marital spat, a doggie fashion feud, a local coffin race and the puzzling investigation surrounding one unlucky corpse. Readers will laugh out loud as the Tripping team tries to solve numerous mysteries while gathering information and photos for a sensational story. Allbritten’s first novel is fast paced, frisky and fun. Look for her next book, The Portrait of Doreene Gray.
Reviewed by Kathryn Franklin
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