Title: The Dog Park Murders
Author: Angela Barker
Published: August 25, 2026
Format: e-ARC
My Rating: 3 stars/5
Synopsis: A killer has been unleashed in their small town…
Juliette Macintyre has never met a dog she didn’t love. For one thing, dogs don’t judge, unlike the human residents of Labrador Falls. Most locals look at her with suspicion because her father was once a dirty cop, even though Juliette is upbeat, helpful, and the best pet groomer around. She just needs to prove it…starting with new resident Joel Cunningham, an enigma wrapped in a checked shirt and a scowl.
Joel runs the Brewed Awakening café, where the coffee is as smooth as Joel is surly. He doesn’t serve pumpkin spice, he doesn’t chitchat, and he claims he doesn’t like dogs. Yet when Juliette stumbles upon a dead body in the dog park, strangled with one of her custom leashes, Joel becomes an unexpected ally.
He has no intention of opening up, to either his cute neighbor or the foster pup she foists on him. But he can’t let a biased detective frame Juliette for murder. Whoever killed the widely loathed Maurice Allsop may be desperate enough to strike again. If they can just ignore their chemistry and focus on the clues, Juliette and Joel might be able to solve the case—before somebody else bites the dust…
My thoughts from the Vault
Disclaimer: I received an e-ARC of this book. I chose to review it and this in no way impacts my opinion of it.
There are two things I love – Dogs, and murder mysteries. I thought I would absolutely love this one and while I did enjoy it, the novel was missing that special spark that completely hooks me.
I am a huge fan of the grumpy-sunshine romance which this novel did pretty well but their romance just fell a bit flat for me. It felt like they leaned heavily on the grumpy-sunshine even in their nicknames.
I enjoyed that it felt like reading a hallmark movie. I love watching any and all hallmark movies because they are cozy and predictable and this novel felt a lot like that. While this novel didn’t completely hook me and have me obsessed, it was still an easy and quick read.
I recommend this novel to anyone who likes cozy mysteries.
Alice's Book Vault 