There’s a new book coming out on October 1st called, The Big Chihuahua. Jimmy G (that’s me) knows this because he’s a private detective. Owner of the Gerrard Agency in Seattle. No problem too small for us to handle. In fact, if you can believe it, Jimmy G has a dog on the payroll.
Here’s the way it happened. Jimmy G hired a cute young lady, name of Geri Sullivan, to be my Gal Friday. She shows up with this rat-dog. The rat-dog is a Chihuahua, answers to Pepe, and according to Geri, he can talk! Jimmy G doesn’t believe that for a minute but one thing is true, that dog can sniff out murder like nobody’s business.
About a week ago a guy called Jimmy G. His wife scrammed and he wants her back. Jimmy G sent his operatives—Geri and her rat-dog—to interview the guy. Next thing, Jimmy G knows, they’re going undercover in this cult that worships a 25,000 year old warrior dog spirit called Dogawanda. Crazy, huh?
These Dogawandans are guided by something called The Seven Commandments of Dogawanda. Only one of the rules makes sense to Jimmy G, and that’s the one that says: “Always obey your pack.” (This is primo because as far as the Gerrard Detective Agency is concerned, Jimmy G’s the leader of the pack.) The rest of their commandments make about as much sense as thinking you won’t get a hangover after drinking a whole bottle of bourbon. (And believe it: Jimmy G has tested that one to the max.)
The Dogawandans live in this fenced compound in the woods and have names like Fern and Mushroom and Sparrow. Get the drift? (Why not names like Fido and Rover and Spot since they worship dogs? The answer to that is over Jimmy G’s head for sure.) The leader, Crystal Star claims to channel the spirit of Dogawanda through an old Weimaraner. But when she spots Pepe, she starts grooming him to be the next incarnation of Dogawanda.
Then, of course, the rat-dog finds one of the Dogawandans, dead in the woods. The Dogawandans claim the victim was attacked by wolves. Geri and Pepe say it was murder.
Sounds pretty hinky, right? So Jimmy G came up to straighten things out. Set up camp in the Wagon Wheel motel in the nearby town of Fern Lake. Started gathering info. Turns out Jimmy G knows the sheriff. Met some of the locals. Strange folks. A vet who does taxidermy for a hobby. A councilman who owns a gas station. A palooka named Curly who’s looking for a stripper.
So to cut to the chase, here’s the final rundown: Jimmy G. saves the day! Natch! What’d you expect? Want more? Read the book.
Meanwhile, Jimmy G’s got other irons in the fire, including the case of a millionaire old lady who leaves all her dough to her dogs and squat to her kids. Should prove interesting. May take a year or so to dope it all out. Stay tuned and Jimmy G. will catch you on the rebound.
You can learn more about what happens in The Big Chihuahua, the third novel in the series of Barking Detective novels published by Kensington Books. The first book in the series is Dial C For Chihuahua .
Waverly is giving away one (1) copy of “THE BIG CHIHUAHUA.” Leave a comment to be included in the giveaway. Contest ends October 22; US entries only.
Meet the author
Waverly Curtis is the pen name of Waverly Fitzgerald and Curt Colbert.
Curt Colbert is the author of the Jake Rossiter and Miss Jenkins mysteries, a series of hardboiled, private detective novels set in 1940’s Seattle. The first book, Rat City, was nominated for a Shamus Award in 2001. A Seattle native, Curt is also a poet and an avid history buff. He is the editor of Seattle Noir, a collection of crime stories published in 2009. He was a judge for the Edgars in 2008 and is a member of the Mystery Writers of America. Curt and his wife live in a Seattle suburb under the thrall of their cat, Esmeralda.
Waverly Fitzgerald is the author of four historical romances set in Victorian London under the name of Nancy Fitzgerald. She has taught writing classes for adults at the UCLA Writers Program, the University of Washington Extension, and Richard Hugo House, a literary arts center in Seattle. Waverly is also the author of Slow Time: Recovering the Natural Rhythms of Life. She lives in an apartment in the heart of Seattle with her daughter, Shaw, and Shaw’s Chihuahua, Pepe.
Waverly and Curt met in a writing class in the late 1980s and have been working together ever since. When Curt came up with the idea of a mystery featuring a talking Chihuahua named Pepe, Waverly asked if she could help and the collaboration began. Curt loves to start chapters; Waverly finishes them. Curt loves to elaborate and Waverly likes to edit. Curt’s humor is broader while Waverly’s humor is more situational. Together they are an unstoppable mystery novel writing team.
Pepe is an eight-year old Chihuahua, adopted by Waverly’s daughter Shaw, when he was a puppy. He likes stuffed toys, especially if they squeak. He hates the rain, which is unfortunate since he lives in Seattle. Like his namesake character, he hates being dressed up and thinks he is much bigger than he is. Unlike his namesake, he has a sweet disposition and doesn’t talk much, but he does have his own Facebook page.
For more information on the adventures of the fictional, Pepe Sullivan, check out our website at www.thepepenovels.com
Books are available at retail and online booksellers.
My best friend had a chihuahua named pepe when I was a kid, so that caught my attention right away with this book . Sounds really funny, thanks for the chance to win !
I read the first book in the series and loved it. I didn’t know there was a 2nd book! Of course now I will have to read this one, too. This writing team has a lock on the style and stories.
Sounds like a really fun series. I;ll have to get the other books and hope to win this one
What a fun looking book. Thank you for the chance to win it.
I love animal detectives!…Dee
This sounds really funny. Would love read this book. Thank you for the chance.
CarolNWong(dot)aol(dot)com
Any mystery with a dog in it goes immediately on my TBR list. Pepe sounds like a good dog to follow.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Have never read a mystery about a talking “rat-dog” so this could be interesting. Sounds funny anyway so would be happy to be the recipient of this book to enlighten me. Thank you for the giveaway.
My grandparents had a black Chihuahua named Tippy because of the white on the tips of her feet. She had a pleasant personality, and when she was tired of the ‘great-grandchildren’ she would just hide behind and under the couch. My aunt’s chihuahua named Samantha, on the other hand, was a yippy dog, and not a pleasant one at all.
Think I might like to read a mystery with a chihuahua — I’ll plan on Pepe being more like Tippy. 🙂
This sounds like a really fun read, I hadn’t read this series yet, I’ll have to add it to my list. Thanks for the chance to win.
Sounds like a fun one, Waverly! Can’t wait to read it.
A chihuahua with a Facebook page. Now that’s my kind of puppy. My sister had a Tippy once but my friend Eve’s chihuahua was her child in the fullest sense of the word. This collaboration sounds so fun. Count me in. judydee22002@yahoo dot com
I have 4 dogs and they don’t like the rain either.
What a clever concept for a mystery series. People love their pets and love a funny story. What a great combination.
What a fun sounding book. Love dogs here so this is a must read.
Sounds like a good cozy- mystery
I had a chihuahua as a child and I love them!!
I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series and meeting Pepe in November!
I love mysteries with dogs in them. Sounds like a fun series.
kaye.killgore@comcast.net
Pepe is one smart Chihuahua! First, he always collars the crook. When he’s on the case, baddies may as well fling their paws up in the air and give up. And second, his sharp, biting commentary and waggish jokes keep readers entertained. So while he’s a bone-a-fide genius at detecting, he’s also a warm and lovable pooch. I hope there’ll be many more tales in this wonderful series.
I love the dog in the mystery, and a funny one at that. I had a smile on my face just reading about the little rat dog, uttered very lovingly.
thanks Waverly for stopping by.
contest is closed.
Shoot, I missed the contest. I really enjoyed the first in the series and now I need the 2nd and 3rd ones.