I've only read one other E.J. Copperman series, centering around a haunted guesthouse. It was good, but the characters always felt a little stiff and awkward. This first book in a new series, centered around a animal talent agent in New York, hit me like the author's attempt at over-correction. The characters in Dog Dish of Doom are almost exuberant and the humor, including wise cracks made to the reader directly (what fourth wall?) were refreshing, but sometimes a bit too thick on the page.

Still, it was this humor and liveliness on the part of the characters that made the book as enjoyable as it is. The plot could have been tighter and as it's written, its more of a frustration than a puzzle for anyone trying to solve the mystery. Too many red herrings and diversions, but I found myself going along with it because I liked the setting and I liked Kay. it fit my current reading mood and because of that, I'm happily willing to try book 2. ( )

Kay Powell is a theatrical agent representing animal actors. Her biggest client is Bruno, an intelligent and talented dog. His owners, however, leave much to be desired. They are annoying. Irritating enough that Broadway Director, Les McMaster, wants it written into the dog's contract that he doesn't have to deal with Trent and Louise. Just as Kay is feeling optimistic that Bruno will be cast as Sandy in the new revival of Annie, his owner Trent is murdered. His body is discovered face-down in Bruno's dog dish with a rather large knife sticking out of his back. Between her parents holding auditions for a senior citizen center show in her living room and a client's owner dead in a water bowl, Kay is not having the best week. When it appears that Bruno might be somehow central to the motive for the killing, Kay steps in to investigate, with the help of her parents (despite her vehement objections to their involvement, of course).

This book is a great blend of humor and light-hearted, cozy mystery. I absolutely adore Kay's parents. They are hilarious and really add to the flavor of the book. Kay is a great main character. She's funny, intelligent, and manages to handle chaos quite well. I guess you have to handle chaos if you represent animal actors!

This is a great start to a new series! Dog Dish of Doom is definitely full of E.J. Copperman's usual wit and humor. I always end up laughing out loud when I read one of Copperman's books. Always an enjoyable story!

E.J. Copperman is a pen name of author Jeff Cohen. He is the author of several series, including the Haunted Guesthouse series and the Asperger's Mystery series (which Copperman/Cohen co-writes with himself -- yes, he co-authors a book with himself...love it!) For any reader who likes well-written, humorous mysteries, I recommend any of his books. For more information on the author, check out his website: http://www.ejcopperman.com/

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from St Martin's Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
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I've read Copperman's Haunted Guest House series & I'm hooked on that. Then I read her Asperger's series & that began well enough, but I disenchanted with it.

I was searching the Library Catalog hoping to find more of the Guest House series, but that was not to be. What I did find was this book and I figured (incorrectly) I might like it.

A former child performer, turned attorney, turned theatrical agent for animals, who now has her "showbiz" parents staying with her, is asked by the police (highly unlikely) to help discover who in the theater might want to murder the owner of the dog she just placed in a spin-off of Annie. As the story slogged along, someone began sending threatening texts & messages to both the dog-walker & the agent to hand over the dog or else.

Then the agents Mother & Father take an interest in the case & decide to join in detecting.

There was very little, if anything, written about the murder of the dog's murdered owner until the end.... He seemed to be unimportant, except to introduce the dog.

The characters were barely tolerable with the main character seeming to be rather dim-witted throughout the book. The plot was completely meshugga, jumping from idea to idea, from happening to happening...Nor was the writing appealing.

What an enormous let down. ( )

Cozy mystery readers who love animals should lap up this first in a new series by E.J. Copperman (alter ego of author Jeff Cohen). Not only do they get to share Kay's clients with her, but Kay's own pets as well-- Steve the dachshund and Eydie the greyhound rescue.

Dog Dish of Doom has a solid cast supporting Kay, including her showbiz parents who are trying to bring their long careers to a close and Kay's more-than-capable assistant, Consuelo. The pace is fast and sure, the humor is pure Cohen, and there's a solid mystery to solve. I'm looking forward to discovering the identity of Kay's next client. ( )