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About The Book

Murder is never just a walk in the park . . .

When friends Louise and Irina find a dead body in the local park whilst walking their dogs, they are soon drawn into the mystery of who murdered local entrepreneur Phil Creasey.

Phil used to be a member of their dog walking community – nicknamed ‘the Pack’ – until the death of his cockapoo, and the Pack feel they owe it to Phil to investigate his death. But with Louise and Irina leading the charge, it isn’t long until they’re neck-deep in local gangs, stolen motorcycles and a disturbing string of poisonings. Have the Pack bitten off more than they can chew, or can they follow their noses and solve the crime?

The Dog Park Detectives is a joyous and fur-ociously entertaining murder mystery for fans of dogs and cosy crime, and the first in a pawfully exciting new series that is perfect for fans of Richard Osman and Robert Thorogood.

'More good dogs than I've ever seen in a single book! Oh, and a grisly, puzzling murder to solve, with lots of twists and red herrings. But really, I'm here for the pooches, and you should be too’ Antony Johnston

'Howling good fun, with a plot twisty enough to get any dogged armchair detective barking up the wrong tree. I loved it – just don't tell my cats!' Fiona Leitch

‘Adored The Dog Park Detectives! Brilliantly written, with quirky characters, dogs and a dash of murder, I ripped through this in two sittings. Perfect cosy crime’ Lisa Hall

‘A pacy and entertaining murder mystery that’s a must-read for all dog-loving crime fans. Go the Dog Park Detectives!’ A. K. Turner

About The Author

Blake Mara is a pseudonym of Mara Timon, author of Second World War thrillers City of Spies and Resistance. She started writing as a child; mostly short stories, but when an idea caught her imagination, she followed one 'what if' after another until her first (and then second . . .) novel emerged.   

Mara is a native New Yorker who moved to the UK about twenty years ago. When Covid hit, she went cliché and got a pandemic puppy – a miniature dachshund with a massive personality. This opened her eyes to the canine-loving community that blossomed around the local dog park, and who became the inspiration for the Dog Park Detectives. But while her dog park pack have tackled some local crimes, they haven’t found a dead body in the park . . . yet.   

For more information, follow Blake Mara on Twitter (@TheBlakeMara), Facebook (BlakeMaraAuthor), Instagram (@TheDudeCalledBlake or @Mara.Timon) or on her website, blakemara.com. 

Product Details

  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK (June 6, 2024)
  • Length: 448 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781398524231

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Raves and Reviews

‘A pacy and entertaining murder mystery that’s a must-read for all dog-loving crime fans. Go the Dog Park Detectives!’

– A. K. Turner

‘Totally PAWSOME – I was hooked from the very first page and Mara weaves a special cosy magic throughout with rich characters and a fascinating, twisty plot. A brilliant whodunnit and all delivered with the deftest of touches. Dogs, dogs and more dogs, all with a splash of the macabre. Unputdownable!’


– Jonathan Whitelaw, author of The Bingo Hall Detectives

'An absolute delight to read. Like a lovely, summery stroll in the park - specifically the dog park’

– Kat Ailes, author of The Expectant Detectives

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