The third book in this Australian crime fiction series, Detective Zoe Mayer and her trusty service dog Harry return to investigate a seemingly murder-suicide in Victoria. It soon becomes clear that this is a much more complex case than meets the eye. With fraud, kidnappings and threats of further violence, Harry and Zoe must solve the case before it’s too late. This was a thrilling, atmospheric read set largely in the beautiful Macedon Ranges. I really liked the idea of a detective with a service dog, however I felt that there were aspects of Harry’s interactions with other characters that didn’t ring true to the realities of having a service dog and felt that Rowell could have done a bit more research in this space.

I just loved this book Harry is a golden retriever service dog to detective Zoe Mayer who helps her.
I haven't read the previous books in the series, but that's ok, you don't need to.
It was an easy to read book now need to go back and read the others

This book jumps straight into the murders but is more about the main characters, especially the good dog in the title. Harry is DS Zoe's service dog, and Zoe is in charge of solving the murders. There is a lot of dialogue, especially where the detectives question the possible witnesses and suspects, and it's pretty dry for the most part. Harry helps out by letting Zoe know who she can trust, and in other ways as needed.
This is the third in the series and I think the series will probably get better as it goes along. Zoe isn't always great -- for instance, it makes more sense when going to confront an armed suspect to go ahead and call for backup. I also think that the series could get better with more of the dog's perspective. But there is no doubt that Harry really is a good dog.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this.

The Good Dog is a reasonably straight-forward police procedural with the main point of difference being the assistance dog partnered with Zoe, the lead detective, due to her PTSD. I haven't read earlier books in this series and I feel that this one could have benefited from a little more of Zoe's backstory for readers new to the series. I would also have enjoyed more "personality" in the dog.
That said the book was well paced in an interesting setting and the investigation unfolded in a satisfying way
Thanks to Text Publishing and NetGalley for an advance copy to review.

EXCERPT: As they came over a small rise, they saw the top of the memorial cross bathed in early light. The colour of sandstone, it was more than twenty metres tall, sitting high up on a three-tiered plinth supported by a large round concrete base, ten metres across and cut into steps. A metal railing enclosed the base. As Zoe approached she could see the victim slouched on the concrete, his head and right shoulder propped against the plinth, a single bloody wound in his upper torso, a thick pool of dark blood staining the concrete to his left. Past the cross, the mountain fell away and a patchwork of farmland and forest stretched to the horizon.

ABOUT 'THE GOOD DOG': After gunshots echo through the summer night on Mount Macedon, Detective Sergeant Zoe Mayer and her loyal service dog Harry race to the summit at first light. What they find looks like a grisly an alleged fraudster named Piers Johnson, and his lawyer Antony Peterson, both dead from bullet wounds, a gun lying nearby.
Something about the scene doesn't stack up. There are plenty of suspects, but no one seems to be telling the truth. Zoe's instincts are ignited, as the pressure to find and charge the culprit becomes intense. And that's when Peterson's teenage daughter Sarah is snatched off the street. The Good Dog is Zoe's toughest assignment yet, a murderous conspiracy of greed, deceit and violence. She knows that Harry may be her only chance to crack the case.

MY THOUGHTS: A cracking good Aussie crime thriller.

The good dog of the title is Harry, a golden retriever and service dog for Detective Zoe Mayer. He also makes a terrific police dog and is the star of the book. Zoe has a new partner, Ben Tarro, who takes a little breaking in. For a start, he doesn't like working with dogs. I just loved Zoe's response to that statement!

Zoe suffers from PTSD relating particularly to helicopters and drones, which can be a big problem in her line of work. Harry is there to centre her, to keep her focused and calm. He is an incredibly intelligent dog, seemingly able to know when someone is lying.

I enjoyed Zoe's character - she's a tough nut, but kind and fair. Ben grew on me as the book progressed.

There's a lot of action in this book, from the initial murders relating back to a fraud case, to the abduction of a teenager. The author makes great use of technological advances but was inclined to skim over the forensics.

This is a well-paced police procedural/Australian crime thriller that kept me invested throughout. Although I haven't read any of the previous books in the series, the author has provided enough background information to enable this to be read as a stand-alone, and A Good Dog deals with a case not related to anything that has occurred in the previous books. However, I am now itching to read the first two books as I have take quite a shine to Zoe and Harry.

The Good Dog is a quick, easy and entertaining read and the twist that leads to the final reveal was an interesting one. No, I didn't see it coming. I do think though, that I would have liked to know for certain if Piers was responsible for the fraud or if, as he claimed, he was sucked in too.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.3

#TheGoodDog #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: Simon Rowell was born in Adelaide, South Australia. As a teenager, Simon worked in outback South Australia in the Cooper Basin oil & gas fields and later at Olympic Dam. In his early twenties, he managed hotels and was a tour guide. Later, for over twenty years, he owned and managed two branding and marketing businesses in Melbourne. He now lives on the Fleurieu Peninsula with a farm full of rescued animals and a large collection of books. Simon is a lover of baseball, jalapeños and sculpture.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Text Publishing via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of The Good Dog by Simon Rowell for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

4★
“They all stared at Harry. She was used to it now—the detective with the service dog was old gossip, but it didn’t stop the uniforms gawking.”

Victorian Police Detective Zoe Mayer and her service dog Harry are familiar to many in the department now, but new constables and the public are often unaware. Despite Harry’s officially-marked police harness, people are reluctant to let him enter offices.

Even her new partner, Ben, looks like he could be a problem.

“She and Ben had only been partnered up for two weeks.
. . .
She’d spent a month or so before that working solo, and she was starting to prefer it that way.
. . .
On that first day, he strutted into the squad room in a grey tailored three-piece suit, his dark hair carefully styled. To Zoe, he looked more gangster than cop. When he spotted Harry curled beside her desk, he pointed at his suit. ‘This doesn’t go with dogs.’

Zoe had stared at him for a long moment. ‘You know that door you came through,’ she said, pointing over his shoulder. ‘It works both ways.’”

Ouch!

Zoe’s not one to back down from a fight, but she does suffer from PTSD after a particularly dramatic shooting event where she was instrumental in saving people while others fled the scene. It was mayhem, with people screaming, choppers, and drones. Since then, the sound of helicopters triggers her, and in her line of work, there are always police and media choppers as well as drones.

Harry hears them first and has been trained to warn her so she can brace herself or pull over if she’s driving.

“Harry darted ahead as they left the cafe and spun around to sit in front of her, blocking her path. His eyes told her everything. Her vision flickered and her chest constricted. She grabbed at a railing as the news chopper circled above. She looked only at Harry and tried to control her breathing.
. . .
She had never admitted, either to her boss or to the police psychologist, how bad her semi-blackouts really were. Only Harry knew.”

She was sent to the police psychologist, with whom she became friendly, but she still didn’t mention the brief loss of awareness. They would have taken her keys away and/or retired her. Harry is not only a great support, he’s also a smart dog. He notices smells and signs that the police might miss, and he has an instinct for whom to trust.

This case involves reports of two shootings, 20 minutes apart, on Mount Macedon, near some fancy homes. The victims were well-known after having been caught up in a Bali development project that turned out to be a scam.

Although Piers Johnson was exonerated of all charges after being defended by his lawyer and friend, Antony Peterson, the other investors are baying for blood. Both men said they had also lost huge amounts of money themselves and they were victims too, but mud sticks, so the police have no shortage of suspects who sought revenge.

The connections between all the characters are complicated by the fact that many of them have been family friends and club members for years. As it turns out, even more connections come to light, and I’ve decided to suspend my natural cynicism, go with the flow, and accept the reveal.

I think each book in this series can be enjoyed as a standalone, because Rowell gives us as much back story as we need to know. This is takes place in Australia, but it could be anywhere, so readers don't need to know anything about Aussie policing.

A small niggle: I prefer that characters have very different names from each other. Margot and Marjorie are easy to confuse (for me), likewise Georgina and Georgia. That may be just me, but there are a lot of names to choose from.

I also listened to some of the audio. Again, the narrator, Elle Mickel, does a good job, and handles Scottish and American accents really well, sounding very natural. I still have trouble telling some of the women apart on the audio. I’m not sure who allowed Nikes (someone’s shoes) to be pronounced like “spikes”. I’m afraid that did offend my sensibilities. 😊 (only very briefly)

Thanks to NetGalley and Text Publishing for the copy for review from which I’ve quoted.

This is my first book in the series, so I feel I possibly missed some of the history as to how Zoe came to have service dog Harry. It started out quite slowly in terms of pace, and I was sure this was going to end up an OK but unmemorable 3 stars. The pace did pick up in the last third of the book, with a good wrap up at the end, so I’m upping this to 4 stars and I’d be interested in reading more in the series.

I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.

The Good Dog by Simon Rowell is the third in the series about Detective Zoe Mayer and her trusted service dog, Harry. In this story the location is in the Mount Macedon area of Victoria and she is joined by a new partner Ben who is fresh and eager. Zoe is a little concerned as she regards have a good understanding and trusting your partner was an essential part of the job in the police force. Before having time to establish this relationship they are confronted with dealing with a double murder.

An interesting and well told story with multiple plots that keep the reader interested. While it is part of a series about Zoe Mayer and Harry, it is also an easy stand alone read.

Recommend read.


This review is based on a complimentary copy from Text Publishing via
NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#TheGoodDog #NetGalley

Another really enjoyable book in the Zoe Mayer series.

Set in both regional Victoria and Melbourne, this story sees Detective Mayer and her dog Harry, with a new partner, investigating a double murder and subsequent kidnapping. The story is well structured, well written and like all good stories has good character development.

I am really enjoying the police procedural series, and look forward to the next instalment.

This really is shaping into an excellent Australian crime (police procedural) series, with each instalment delivering something fresh along with excellent characterisation, tight plotting and one very, very good dog.

After working on her own for a little while, DS Zoe Mayer has only recently been partnered with a new DC, Ben Tarro, when the pair are called to a gunshot fatality at the top of Mount Macedon, a little way out of Melbourne. The victim is Piers Johnson, acquitted of fraud charges only months beforehand. The crime scene appears fairly straightforward, if not immediately solvable, until Zoe's service dog Harry - the good dog - alerts them to something of concern further away in the undergrowth. Another victim, not yet dead. Unfortunately, fate doesn't favour the second man, and he soon succumbs to his wound. When a gun is found not too far from the second victim, Zoe and Ben develop a working theory of murder-suicide. But when the forensics don't support that theory, the detectives have to acknowledge they have a much more perplexing case on their hands.

Ben has big shoes to fill, taking over from Zoe's previous partner Charlie, but after a slightly shaky start <i>When he spotted Harry curled beside her desk, he pointed at his suit. ‘This doesn’t go with dogs.’</i> he is able to prove his worth when Zoe gives him the space to sink or swim. And with Harry contributing more to the investigation than anyone has the right to expect, Ben seems to accept his new furry colleague. But overall, Zoe and Harry are the stars of this show, and once again they work seamlessly together to crack the case while making sure Zoe's PTSD doesn't interfere with her ability to investigate.

I really enjoyed meeting up with these characters again, and hope the author doesn't run out of ideas for some time.

After the events of Wild Card (book 2), detective Zoe Mayer has a new partner in Ben in The Good Dog. As he is new he needs to prove himself - and he gets the chance whilst investigating the double murder. Harry the service dog is fun and adds value to the story. It was great to see Zoe’s instincts in action and the partnership building between Zoe and Ben. This one had a bit of drama on the side as there is a kidnapping to investigate as well as the murders - and to determine if they are connected.

Whilst the book can be read as a stand alone, I think it’s would be more enjoyable reading the others first to have the history of the characters.

The Good Dog is the third excellent book in Simon Rowell’s series featuring Victorian homicide Detective Zoe Mayer and her trusted service dog, Harry.

When Zoe is called to the scene of a bullet ridden body on Mount Macedon, Harry’s discovery of a second body in nearby bushland suggests they may be looking at a case of murder-suicide. Yet it soon becomes clear to Zoe and her new partner, DC Ben Tarro, that the crime scene has been staged.

I quickly found myself invested the suspenseful plot of The Good Dog. There are plenty of suspects for the crime - the dead men, recently acquitted fraudster Piers Johnson, and his lawyer Antony Peterson, have several enemies, especially among those who lost a lot of money in Johnson’s investment scheme. There are twists in the investigation that keep things interesting, and the identity of Zoe and Ben’s quarry is likely to surprise more than a few readers.

The pacing of the novel works well, with the urgency of the investigation accelerated by threats levelled at the dead men’s wives, the ransacking of Johnson’s home, and the kidnapping of Peterson’s teenage daughter. The eventual confrontation between Zoe, Ben, and the killer in particular is tense and exciting.

Zoe is a strong, appealing character and her relationship with Harry, a golden retriever, who not only serves as Zoe’s anchor when her PTSD is triggered, but is also a useful investigative tool, is a great feature of the series. Ben’s introduction seemed inauspicious, and he still feels a little insubstantial, but he proves to be a good partner for Zoe over the course of the novel.

If you enjoy well-written police procedurals The Good Dog, along with its prequels, The Long Game and Wild Card, are a treat that will leave you begging for more.

The third book in this excellent series. I am really growing to like DS Zoe Mayer and who would not love Harry, the service dog and the good dog of the title.

After the death of her previous partner Zoe is now teamed up Ben Tarro who is young and determined to make an impression. I loved the first scene when he sees Harry and makes it clear he does not want to work with a dog, to which Zoe replies that the door he just came in works both ways. She is one tough cookie, and I certainly would not want to argue with her about Harry! Ben does improve as the book goes on.

Two murders are rapidly followed by a teenage abduction and Harry earns his title of good dog by doing more work than the humans do in finding the victims. This is an intriguing and fast paced mystery and I enjoyed every minute of it. I hope Zoe, Ben and Harry feature in many more books in the future.

Simon Rowell’s series about Detective Sergeant Zoe Mayer of the Victorian Police Force and her trusty service dog, Harry, is an underappreciated gem of Australian crime writing.

The first two books in the series were very good, and The Long Game was one of my favourite crime novels of 2021.

The Good Dog is the third book in the series and opens with Zoe and Harry being called to the Victorian rural area of Mount Macedon. Following reports of gunshots, the bodies of fraudster Piers Johnson and his lawyer Antony Peterson have been found in a carpark. Both are dead from bullet wounds and the gun is found nearby. It seems like a grisly murder-suicide, but something about the scene does not stack up for Zoe. Regardless, she is under pressure to wrap up the case quickly, but things become complicated when the daughter of one of the men is kidnapped.

This is another very accomplished, but understated novel by Rowell. The pacing is good, and the story is well supported by an engaging cast of credible characters. The plotting is smart and believable, and the mystery unfolds in an interesting manner with some good twists.

The plotting and the characters are well supported by Rowell’s fine ear for local dialogue, and his evocative descriptions of the Mount Macedon area. Zoe’s connection with Harry once more forms the core of the book, but it is nicely complemented by the uncertain relationship between Zoe and her new partner Ben. After some good twists, the book builds to an exciting, and unexpected, climax in the bushland, and is probably the most intense ending of the series so far.

In all, The Good Dog is a well plotted and very enjoyable police mystery that will keep you keenly turning the pages all the way to the end.

I consider a book with a dog on the cover as a sort of magnet: I must read it. A thriller featuring a dog is a treat and I loved this dog and this solid plot that kept me reading and guessing.
Well plotted and entertaining.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

The 3rd book in the Detective Sergeant Zoe Mayer series is all business as she takes on a double homicide case. The dead men, both shot to death at the top of Mount Macedon in Victoria, are Piers Johnson, a businessman and his lawyer Antony Peterson. Johnson had just been recently acquitted on a charge of fraud after 22 million dollars of investor’s money disappeared - Peterson was the lawyer who got him off. There are 22 million reasons why certain people might want these two men dead.

As with many police procedurals, the case begins with the requisite interviews of potential suspects. But after Zoe and her new partner Detective Senior Constable Ben Tarro have finished they’re none the wiser as to the identity of the shooter. It’s only when Antony Peterson’s daughter is abducted in broad daylight and demands are made to return the stolen money that real progress is made.

Although Zoe is the lead investigator on the case, this is very much a team effort with plenty of help coming from her technical team. In particular, many of the more significant breaks in the case came courtesy of mobile phone metadata which had been accessed and used to pinpoint where to look. This was a particularly interesting aspect of the case and definitely helped to keep things moving along at a solid clip.

In many respects, The Good Dog is your classic police procedural mystery thriller that’s been given a bit of spice through the inclusion of Harry, Zoe’s service dog. Zoe still suffers from PTSD brought about by a previous case. Harry provides her with support, most specifically by early detection of helicopter and drone sounds that set off Zoe’s panic attacks. By focusing on Harry, she’s able to manage her attacks.

That’s Harry’s primary role, and he’s been a comforting presence throughout all books in the series, there’s no doubt. But in this episode, we get to see him demonstrate a more complete range of his abilities and, true to the title of the book, these talents mark Harry as a very good dog indeed.

Having read all three books of the series to date, it has been interesting to watch Zoe’s development. It’s clear that she has become more confident and decisive in the way she runs her investigations. While the PTSD’s still there, the abiding presence of Harry has clearly played a big role in her progress. The result is a smooth investigation that is firmly guided by an assured hand and this also means there’s always a sense that things are progressing along.

I thought the introduction of Ben as her new (human) partner has been a promising one. Sure, he’s had to endure the usual tense moments as his new colleagues test him out, but he’s already proving himself to be a solid detective. This augurs well for future books, surely.

A well-plotted police procedural that contained a number of cleverly hidden surprises and a well organised investigation that required some intuitive police work, The Good Dog has added up to another entertaining mystery.

My thanks to Netgalley and Text publishing for a digital ARC which allowed me to read, enjoy and review this book.

This is book 3 in the Zoe Mayer series and just as good as books one and two. Zoe is a police officer with PTSD who has a service dog Harry that helps her manage this. Zoe is working with a new partner, Ben and they are called out to a homicide at Mount Macedon.
I really enjoyed the setting of the book have visited Mount Macedon and its surrounds many times. This had a fast moving plot and great characters once again. I can highly recommend this series, I think it reads better as a series than a standalone book, and definitely in the correct order.
Thank you Netgalley and Text publishing for the opportunity to read this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When Detective Sergeant Zoe Mayer was called to Mount Macedon in the middle of the night, after reports of gunshots, her new partner Ben along with her service dog Harry accompanied her. Finding two bodies, the second one breathing his last, set Zoe and Harry on a deep and violent case which could have dire consequences. Piers Johnson had recently been acquitted on fraud charges and along with his lawyer, Antony Peterson, the pair were hated by those who'd lost millions in the caper. Being acquitted didn't mean innocence, and many believed Piers was hiding the money. Zoe's job was to discover who had killed the two men - there were plenty with motive.

Interviewing all those who'd lost money, along with family members of the deceased, Zoe was puzzled. Not a lot made sense. But when a young girl was abducted and her mother given three days to return the millions, the race was on. Would Zoe and her team find Sarah before it was too late for her? And would they discover the murderer/s who had started the baffling case off?

The Good Dog is the 3rd in the Detective Zoe Mayer series by Aussie author Simon Rowell and that makes 3 out of 3 top reads for me! Zoe is an outstanding, well written character, and as for Harry! He's adorable - a good dog (as the title suggests!) This one was filled with intrigue and tension; fast paced, intense and set in and around Melbourne, Victoria. An excellent, highly recommendable read!

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

Occasionally, an Australian crime story with a plot, characters, pacing, red herrings, and a small dog feels right. For all those who enjoy crime fiction, Simon Rowell's tale will keep you wondering until the unexpected conclusion, and isn't that all we want?
An independent review for NetGalley and Text Publishing

‘They all stared at Harry. She was used to it now—the detective with the service dog was old gossip, but it didn’t stop the uniforms gawking.’

Harry, Detective Sergeant Zoe Mayer’s service dog is a very good dog. While Harry’s main role is to assist DS Mayer to manage her PTSD, his presence has provided comfort to distraught relatives. And today, when DS Mayer and her partner Detective Constable Ben Tarro are called to a confronting scene on Mount Macedon, Harry finds a second victim. It looks like a murder suicide: an alleged fraudster named Piers Johnson and his lawyer Antony Peterson both die from bullet wounds, with a gun lying nearby.

Piers Johnson has recently been tried for embezzling millions of dollars in an investment scam. Johnson, who claimed that he was also defrauded, was found not guilty. But not everyone believes that Johnson is innocent. There were others who lost large sums of money and some of them are certain that Johnson has hidden the money. Could one of them be responsible for two murders? DS Mayer and DC Tarro investigate.

A 3D printed ghost gun was used to kill both men and while it is quickly established as murder (not murder suicide), investigations stall. Some of those with motive have sound alibis while others do not. Johnson’s home is ransacked, and Peterson’s teenaged daughter is abducted. A ransom call makes it clear that the abduction is related to the fraud.

The tension increases. Who is the killer, and what is their motivation? Be prepared for a suspenseful ending.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Text Publishing providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

PS Harry is my hero!