Case of the Collie Flour

This is a fluffy book centered on a murder and a sweet almost-but-not-quite romance. I liked Detective Jane McLeary, especially her patient willingness to give Finn what she needs at any particular moment. Even when Jane is stressed herself, she still watches how Finn is feeling and takes care of her. I like Finns strength, a quality that coexists with Finns uncertainties and OCD tendencies. I also liked how they were together, and their decision to just see where things went instead of pushing directly into a romantic relationship. The murder wasnt the center of the bookthe relationship/budding romance was. The murder investigation mainly provided Jane with a chance to show who she is, gave Finn opportunities to demonstrate her competence and connectedness to her community, and gave both Jane and Finn reasons to meet and spend time together. The murder was solved in a way that required a great deal of suspension of disbelief by the readeranother reaon why the murder felt peripheral to the storys heart.

Parts of the book made me cringe. Finnegans un-swear words, for instance. She started out saying awkward things like, Why won’t anyone tell me just what the ever loving fuzzy heck is going on? and Oh fuzzy fritters, I was as bad as mom, wasn’t I?, but by the end of the book, her swearing had become bombastic by the swishing tail and lolling tongue! or By the lord of the swishing tail, I’ll do what I want. came tripping off her tongue. Finns language made me uncomfortable throughout the bookmuch too cutesy in one place, overly theatrical in another and embarrassingly stilted in a third.

Which brings me to my second main issue: Finnegans character. At the beginning of the story, Schubach paints her as a Broadway musical ingenue who just moved to The Big City from a small town upstate, an old fashioned girl who says Golly gee!, never swears, and smiles at everyone she sees. But then he also makes her OCD and a very successful business owner, qualities that dont quite fit with the Pollyanna persona. On the one hand, she says boy bits instead of using the words for a guys genitals, on the other, shes comfortable having sex and lustily assesses everyones appearance.

In complete contrast, Finn is also capable of some lovely thinking. This is my favorite quote on Finns experience of NYC:
I don’t know how to explain the feeling of being a part of something that is so alive, so organic and ever-changing. You can be lost in the anonymity if you want and just let the world and sea of people flow around you like you’re a rock in a stream as you watch the impossibility of it all around you. Or you can let go of your mooring whenever you want to sail on that same current, and be seen, and contribute to that life happening all about you. It makes you feel… bigger than yourself, just being part of it. If you know what you are doing, you can find a certain peace and tranquility in that chaos. I don’t know. Sounds stupid.

That quote doesnt fit anything else Finn says or does, but does give a sense theres more underneath her self-conscious and girlish exterior than she usually shows. Or maybe thats the author himself were hearing… Im hoping its actually Finn, though, and that there will be more depth to her as the series continues. This was a very light fun read, so I will try the next book too, to see if Finns character becomes more substantial and to how the Finn/Jane romance develops.

Finnegan Temperance May or Fin as her friends call her, is an elite dog walker in Manhattan, New York. She has made quite a name for herself offering her dedicated services to the rich and famous.

She winds up in the middle of a Murder investigation of one of her clients owners after picking him up for his daily morning walk. Soon after walking into the apartment to pick up Calvin, the excitable boarder collie, she notices flour strewn all over the kitchen, Being a little OCD she struggles with her inner voice to not clean up the mess and leaves with Calvin on her walk. Upon returning she is greeted by a barrage of police and detectives investigating the murder of Abigail, Calvins owner.

Enter Jane McLeary, badass detective at NYPD. She is the lead detective on Abigails case, and she and Fin make quite the first impression on each other. Nicknaming Jane Jerk Cop, Fin feels as tho she is being interrogated for Abigails murder. She goes home to the comfort of her little apartment (with Calvin in tow) only to be greeted by said Jerk Cop coming to rent the spare room at her apartment.

What unfolds is a cute and funny tale of the interactions between Fin and Jane as they struggle to solve the mystery of the murder of Calvins human.

I really enjoyed this book, although only short at just over 200 pages it is easy reading and flows nicely so the reader never gets bored. I love the humour that Mr Schubach uses and it would quite easily appeal to any audience from Young Adult up. Being written by a male doesnt at all detract from the believability of the story and he hasnt tried to overthink the lesbian content. There are no erotic scenes making it more than suitable for a teen audience as well. I hope that everyone takes the opportunity to read this series of four stories as they are extremely enjoyable and easy to read. At only $5.30AUD per book I think they are reasonably priced. Well done, 5 stars.

I really enjoyed this book. Fin is a dog walker of the elite in the city. She has about 25 clients and gets paid more than the other dog walkers. She is OCD, everything has it’s place. She prides herself on always being on time for every client. Until one day her schedule is thrown off by a murder. She is taken by a very attractive police detective, to the station for questioning. She had no choice but to call an ex’s agency to finish the clients on her schedule. He is happy to do since she receives a much higher rate from her clients.

Fin’s OCD has caused a problem keeping roommates. She scheduled 2 interviews for potential roommates the evening after her trip to the police station. She was shocked at who showed for the first interview.I

There is something about very sexy about detective, “jerk” Jane, that makes Fin all hot and bothered every time she is near her.

See how a network of thousands of dog walkers catch a killer.

It’s a mystery that will make you LOL!! Definitely will continue this series! Thanks Erik for creating a cozy mystery series!

I laughed quite a few times, a well written story and I just love the character’s. Wasn’t expecting murder when I bought it and now I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Though I’ve enjoyed everything that Schubach has written, this may be one of my new favorites. I’m definitely looking forward to more from this series. Love the throwback feel of the earlier mots book for sures! The slow burn of the relationship between Jane and Fin is wonderful and their witty banter are a ton of fun. I also enjoyed the cozy mystery aspect of the plot which felt fully thought out and was paced nicely. Overall I highly recommend it if you love a good light mystery with a dose of romance and a side of sarcasm thrown in for good measure.

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