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In Dog We Trust (Cozy Dog Mystery): #1 in the Golden Retriever Mystery Series (Golden Retriever Mysteries) Kindle Edition
Steve’s ripe for a new relationship—divorced, over forty, and still dusting himself off from a lamentable sojourn in prison, an unusual experience for a professor, to say the least. (He really must do something about his hacking habit!)
Rochester’s a handsome, homeless, loveable golden retriever whom Steve had always found too big, too enthusiastic, and too shaggy.
But tragedy struck their neighborhood when someone murdered Caroline, Steve’s nice next-door neighbor, while she walked her best friend, Rochester. Steve’s the unlucky guy who finds her body and he just knows, despite their differences, that he has to take in the broken-hearted pooch.
Once they’re both properly rehomed, these two form a detective partnership that’ll make you sit up and beg for more. Eat your hearts out, Spade & Archer—pretty soon they’ve got a warm and fuzzy thing going. Big furry forthrightness—not to mention heart—meets tech-savvy craftiness as they work their case.
Rochester has no idea he has the potential to be the greatest doggy detective since Rex the Wonder Dog was a pup. But he’s got a job to do and he has to find a way to train Steve in the fine art of investigation. Unbeknownst to Steve, his life just changed radically—because a big furry mentor has just trotted into it. Both want justice for Caroline, and Rochester’s way of expressing it is simply to sniff out one clue after another in the hope his two-legged colleague can piece them together.
Steve’s way—when all’s said and done— is still to bend the law a little, with the help of Caroline’s contraband laptop. And also to follow Rochester’s trail of treats.
Fans of animal cozies—and all cozies!--will find pure gold here especially aficionados of mutt heroes from the aforementioned Rex through the immortal pooches created by Spencer Quinn, David Rosenfelt, Garth Stein, and Laurien Berenson. Lovers of canine classic films like TURNER AND HOOCH, BEVERLY HILLS CHIHUAHUA, and the immortal BENJI will also want to sit and stay awhile. Luckily, there’s a whole litter of cases out there.
Neil S. Plakcy is the author of the award-winning Mahu mystery series, and coeditor of Paws and Reflect: A Special Bond Between Man and Dog.
- Reading age10 - 18 years
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication dateMarch 10, 2010
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From the Publisher

A clue-sniffing golden retriever.

A hacker with a chance to redeem himself.

A woman whose love he needs to earn.

And a dead body to bring them together.
Editorial Reviews
Review
--Red Adept
Steve and Rochester become quite a team and Neil Plakcy is the kind of writer that I want to tell me this story. It's a fun read which will keep you turning pages very quickly.
Amos Lassen --Your Complete Pet
In Dog We Trust is a very well-crafted mystery that kept me guessing up until Steve figured out where things were going. --E-book addict reviews
From the Author
Walking there, out of sight of the guardhouse and the main road, I often thought that would be a great place to kill someone, or at least drop the body. That's how I came up with the opening scene of In Dog We Trust, when Steve discovers the body of his next-door neighbor, who has been out walking her golden retriever, Rochester.
Rochester is based, of course, on my own dog, but also on a collie who visits us frequently and who has a nose for trouble.
About the Author
Product details
- ASIN : B003BVIWYQ
- Publisher : Samwise Books
- Accessibility : Learn more
- Publication date : March 10, 2010
- Language : English
- File size : 1.9 MB
- Simultaneous device usage : Unlimited
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 356 pages
- Page Flip : Enabled
- Book 1 of 20 : Golden Retriever Mysteries
- Reading age : 10 - 18 years
- Best Sellers Rank: #222,650 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #3,650 in Amateur Sleuth Mysteries (Kindle Store)
- #3,790 in Murder Thrillers
- #3,896 in Murder
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Thanks for reading! I’d love to stay in touch with you. Visit my home page at www.mahubooks.com, where you can subscribe to one or more of my newsletters. I hope you'll also consider following me at Goodreads to see what I'm reading, and subscribe to my author page at Facebook where I post news and giveaways.
I've wanted to be an author since I was about sixteen, when a high school assignment on A Separate Peace showed me how powerful writing can be. At the University of Pennsylvania I studied creative writing with Philip Roth and Carlos Fuentes; I went on to receive my MFA from Florida International University.
My first published novel was Mahu, about a Honolulu homicide detective dragged out of the closet during a tough case. I put a lot of myself into Kimo Kanapa'aka, the hero, and yet he’s very much his own character, and much better than I am! He has had a powerful hold on my imagination for many years. I love writing about him and hope to keep doing so for a long time. He’s also the source of my favorite reader question. A few years ago, someone emailed to ask if he was circumcised.
My first reaction was “Man, I’ll bet Stephen King doesn’t get questions like that.” But then, his are probably even weirder. I went online and did some research and discovered that at the time Kimo was born, hospital circumcisions were common. So there you go.
My path to publication was a long and checkered one, as is the case with many authors. My first published stories were magazine erotica, and I still like to keep my hand in (no pun intended) with that kind of writing. But for the most part now I write mystery and romance—all my books seem to have both those elements, though in different proportions.
I began writing the golden retriever mysteries because I spent so much time walking my golden, Samwise (yes, I’m a Tolkien geek). He had so many funny habits and such a strong personality that I just knew I had to write a book that featured a dog like him. (Fortunately, Sam had no habit of finding dead bodies.)
I live in Hollywood, Florida now, with my partner and our golden retrievers, Brody and Griffin.
Customer reviews
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers enjoy this mystery book for its engaging plot and well-developed characters with helpful descriptions. The story features a highly intelligent golden retriever as a detective, keeping readers guessing throughout. Customers find it an amusing read with occasional stress-relieving humor, and one customer notes the author writes without using swear words. The book receives positive feedback for its cute, cozy style, though opinions about the pacing are mixed, with some finding it good while others say it moves a little slow.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book engaging and entertaining, with an engrossing plot that flows well.
"...Other than that, a fun read - I'd say well worth the bargain price especially for people who love dogs." Read more
"...That's what makes a great mystery worth reading: a believable plot with enough details given so the reader can participate in the "detection process..." Read more
"Terrible cover art for a great book. It isn't silly, it's a wonderful "cozy" mystery that happens to have an opinionated Golden Retriever in it...." Read more
"Actually I wanted to give book 2 stars, but the story was really good...." Read more
Customers love the characters in the book, particularly the appealing hero, and appreciate how the story line introduces them with helpful descriptions.
"...Along with the titles, Plakcy creates some brilliant character names that make those characters memorable...." Read more
"...Also, while the dog character is generally well-written, I found some of the doggy clue-finding behaviors (pawing at important things, etc.)..." Read more
"...background and color (and a little humor) to make the characters come alive on paper and likeable to the point where the reader routes for them and..." Read more
"...transparent efforts at sympathy mentioned above, his character development was very well done. At first, he's not all that likable...." Read more
Customers find the book well written and easy to read, with one customer noting that the author writes in a friendly conversational manner.
"...These stories can be read in any order and enjoyed, but I feel reading In Dog We Trust first is essential in understanding the characters and what..." Read more
"A light, easy reading mystery about a college professor turned amateur sleuth and reluctant dog owner...." Read more
"...makes a great mystery worth reading: a believable plot with enough details given so the reader can participate in the "detection process" and enough..." Read more
"...Mr. Plakcy did a terrific job in this cozy mystery. He had a smooth writing style that kept the story flowing evenly...." Read more
Customers love the Golden Retriever in the book, describing it as smart and man's best friend.
"...The author nails conduct and personality of a golden retriever. If the main character was a little more believable this would have been 5-star...." Read more
"...I loved that he was rather self-effacing, but a good guy...." Read more
"...Rochester makes a great detective and is training his human." Read more
"Thoroughly enjoyed this cozy, IN DOG WE TRUST, by Neil Plankcy! Helps to be an animal lover, but not required...." Read more
Customers enjoy the book's humor, describing it as an exciting read with occasional stress-relieving moments, making it particularly enjoyable for dog and mystery lovers.
"...It may be most enjoyable for dog people, who'll recognize many of the canine antics and misbehaviors that the protagonist encounters when he..." Read more
"...I recommend this for any high school student on up. Entertaining, yes. Moral lessons taught, yes. And all making me want more." Read more
"Terrible cover art for a great book. It isn't silly, it's a wonderful "cozy" mystery that happens to have an opinionated Golden Retriever in it...." Read more
"...The book overall is quite good and entertaining. The author nails conduct and personality of a golden retriever...." Read more
Customers enjoy the mystery content of the book, featuring a highly intelligent dog detective who keeps readers guessing throughout the story.
"...I loved his character and the dog’s role in the plot. I loved that he was rather self-effacing, but a good guy...." Read more
"...There were many possible suspects and you are kept guessing until the end...." Read more
"...Rochester is the epitome of the Goldens I have known. Appreciated analyses of suspects and solving the crimes." Read more
"...Some clues are clumsily and noticeably inserted (you may guess whodunnit)...." Read more
Customers find the book cute and cozy, describing it as adorable and thoroughly enjoyable, with one customer noting it has enough background and color.
"...the reader can participate in the "detection process" and enough background and color (and a little humor) to make the characters come alive on..." Read more
"...There is a cute dog, and a developing relationship between the dog and his new owner, but it's so well done that it touched me and reminded me of..." Read more
"...the process of him interacting with Rochester and becoming one is quite cute. They help solve multiple crimes and you get a happy ending." Read more
"Thoroughly enjoyed this cozy, IN DOG WE TRUST, by Neil Plankcy! Helps to be an animal lover, but not required...." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the book's pace, with some finding it good while others note that the storyline moves a little slow.
"...It was hard for me to put this down once I started because it’s fast paced and keeps your interest...." Read more
"...The storyline did move a little slow in places...." Read more
"...A well-told story with lots of surprises and a good pace.!" Read more
"The book really did start out slow, lame, and just plain boring. I have to be honest, the book remained like that for almot half the book...." Read more
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Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2022I wanted to see how it all begun for Steve and Rochester, so, after reading and reviewing The Kingdom of Dog, Book 2 in the Golden Retriever Mystery Series, I went back and downloaded In Dog We Trust, the first book in the series.
In Dog We Trust, Steve, our main POV character, isn’t a dog person, but ends up with Rochester when his human, Caroline, Steve’s neighbor, is murdered. It was only supposed to be for a day or two, but Steve ends up keeping him. Rochester reminds me of the Golden Retriever in Dean Koontz’s suspense/horror novel, Watchers, who was also super-intelligent. The Golden Retriever in Watchers was named Einstein. Einstein got his human-like intelligence from being genetically altered, but it doesn’t take the reader long to realize that Rochester has come by the same human-like intelligence naturally.
In Dog We Trust, like in all the titles in this series, the word “Dog” could be replaced with the word “God” to form an expression that every reader is familiar with. Whether Neil S. Plakcy had that idea in mind when he created these titles, I know not, but it’s a clever idea and it works very well with these stories. Along with the titles, Plakcy creates some brilliant character names that make those characters memorable. In Dog We Trust, Book 1 in the series should be required reading before the reader reads any of the other books in the series because it provides an in-depth backstory for all the stories that follow. These stories can be read in any order and enjoyed, but I feel reading In Dog We Trust first is essential in understanding the characters and what led up to them becoming the characters that they are when we meet them.
In In Dog We Trust, we learn that Steve, after graduating from Eastern College, moves to the Big Apple to pursue a graduate degree in English. There he meets and marries his wife, Mary. Mary wears the pants in their relationship, so Steve shapes his careers around hers. She gets a promotion that moves them to the West Coast, to silicon Valley, where they try to have a family. Mary has two miscarriages. After the first miscarriage, Mary goes on a spending spree, so after the second one, Steve hacks into the credit bureaus and flags her accounts so she can’t get any new credit cards. He gets caught and goes to prison, during which Mary divorces him. Upon his release, Steve returns to Stewarts Crossing, in Pennsylvania, to start over. That’s where In Dog We Trust begins.
When Caroline is murdered, Steve risks his freedom by violating the rules of parole in order to help a local detective, an old high school buddy, solve the murder. How will this all end for Steve? Will he be able to help Rick solve the case? Will he get caught by Santiago, his parole officer, and be violated and sent back to prison? Well, you’ll just have to read In Dog We Trust to find out.
The way everything comes together in the end will make you a fan of Neil S. Plakcy and of the Golden Retriever Mystery Series, just as it did me. I’m destined to binge out on the complete series now!
- Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2010A light, easy reading mystery about a college professor turned amateur sleuth and reluctant dog owner. Not really a stay-up-all-night page turner, but for the price it's a decent, fun read.
It may be most enjoyable for dog people, who'll recognize many of the canine antics and misbehaviors that the protagonist encounters when he unexpectedly takes on care of a boisterous Golden Retriever. I enjoyed the main character's development from first being apalled at the big, slobbery beast, through slowly growing an emotional bond with the dog, to becoming a full-fledged dog person.
There are a couple of flaws that detract from the reading. Some clues are clumsily and noticeably inserted (you may guess whodunnit). Also, while the dog character is generally well-written, I found some of the doggy clue-finding behaviors (pawing at important things, etc.) unrealistic. My dog is pretty smart but if I'm murdered I doubt she'll be scratching at important papers to alert people to clues, unless I get bludgeoned by bacon and it splatters into my file cabinet.
My biggest complaint involves odd, contrived, punny character names which really jarred me out of the story. For instance, "Anna Rexick, who wanted to be a nurse, specializing in eating distorders. She was painfully skinny..." I mean, come ON. There's also "Billy Rubin, who wanted to be a doctor" (see bilirubin), and some others. Is this supposed to be a joke? I couldn't tell because the narrator actually discusses some character names, like "Dee Gamay" as "digame" in Spanish, treating them as serious, actual names within the world of this story. I don't really understand what the author was trying to do, but I found it really distracting. After Anna Rexick I started saying all the character names to myself to see if they "meant" anything.
Other than that, a fun read - I'd say well worth the bargain price especially for people who love dogs.
- Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2021Plakcy doesn't take long to draw the reader into the plot. There are a few times of contemplation about prison, marriage and broken dreams the author uses to give background and explanation for evolving actions, but overall, not disruptive. There a a few times swear words crop up and references to sexual attraction but they are rare and no sexual specifics are mentioned, that's why I even gave it a PG-13 rating. Agatha Christie had as much. In fact this book had the plot and suspect list just as developed as the Great Dame's novels. The police procedure was a little suspect at times but was explained away in an acceptable weakness. If you only accept details "by the book" this may be a problem but this is escapism in a believable fashion and Neil does a fascinating job laying out a multifaceted plot that the reader can both follow easily yet stay interested.
That's what makes a great mystery worth reading: a believable plot with enough details given so the reader can participate in the "detection process" and enough background and color (and a little humor) to make the characters come alive on paper and likeable to the point where the reader routes for them and wants more.
I recommend this for any high school student on up. Entertaining, yes. Moral lessons taught, yes. And all making me want more.
- Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2025Terrible cover art for a great book. It isn't silly, it's a wonderful "cozy" mystery that happens to have an opinionated Golden Retriever in it. If you just look at the cover you might think it's a joke book. It's a real mystery book and when I finish it, I may look for more in the series.
Top reviews from other countries
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GelegenheitsleserReviewed in Germany on August 11, 2012
4.0 out of 5 stars Richtig: Auf unsere Hunde können wir uns verlassen!
Aufmerksam auf das Buch bin ich durch den Titel geworden: Diese eigenwillige Veränderung des Wahlspruchs der USA. Und da ich ein Hundenarr bin, unterschreibe ich diesen Wahlspruch auch voll!
Steve Levitan, ein auf Bewährung entlassener Ex-Hacker, ist auf den Hund, den Golden Retreiver Rochester gekommen, da seine Nachbarin, das Frauchen des Hundes, ermordet wurde. Er ist überhaupt kein Hundefreund, nimmt sich aber seiner an, da der sonst im Tierheim gelandet wäre.
Und nun entwickelt sich ein Krimi, in dem es um das geht, was in allen Krimis wichtig ist: Wer ist der Mörder?
Allerdings beschränkt sich der Autor nicht darauf, denn es geht ihm vor allem darum zu zeigen, wie wunderbar es ist, einen vierbeinigen Gefährten zu haben - und so, wie er das beschreibt, merkt man, dass er Erfahrung mit Hunden hat. Für Hundenarren eine wunderbare Lektüre, wenn mir auch ein wenig auf die Nerven ging, wie Rochester die Ermittlungen maßgeblich beeinflusste: albern!
Aber noch ein dritter Aspekt ist wichtig: Steve ist nicht straffällig geworden, weil er sich durch seine Hackerei Vorteile oder das Geld anderer verschaffen wollte. Bei ihm ist dies eine Sucht, die er kaum in den Griff bekommt. Man kann sich daher vorstellen, wie schwer es für ihn ist, dass er während der Bewährungszeit nur noch an seinem überprüften Computer arbeiten darf, um nicht wieder ins Gefängnis zurück zu müssen.
Allerdings redet er sich ein, dass es doch nicht so schlimm sein könne, seine Fähigkeiten dafür einzusetzen , dass seine Nachbarin gerächt, seinem ermittelnden Polizistenfreund geholfen wäre, wenn er sich an der Suche nach dem Täter mit ein bisschen Hackerei beteiligte. Doch es lauern nicht nur von den staatlichen Autoritäten Gefahren, auch dem Täter passt seine Einmischung gar nicht.
Insgesamt fand ich den Roman ein wenig zu geschwätzig, verliert er oft Tempo durch unwichtige Informationen. Auch ist die gesamte Handlung recht unwahrscheinlich, und auf den Täter kommt man schon recht früh. Da es aber - wie gesagt - nicht alleine auf das Krimigeschehen ankommt, ist das nicht so wichtig.
Und wegen Rochester, in den man sich verlieben muss: 4 Sterne!
- DaranemReviewed in Australia on June 23, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book
I found out the author is an English college teacher and it shows; the writing is impecable. The story is well woven and the characters nuanced. I didn't guess the murderer until almost the end. I really enjoyed his relationship with the dog and his overcoming the constraints of being on parole. Highly recommended.
- Sharon O'BrienReviewed in Canada on August 7, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Great story
Loved the story line and the dogs detection, the author put all the suspects,out there from the beginning and it was good fun trying to figure it all out!!!
- Alan Cobb alan cobbReviewed in the United Kingdom on November 18, 2022
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent reading
A very good easy to read, good story line ,good characters all in all an enjoyable read and recommended highly by myself
- snowdrop1941Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 19, 2022
4.0 out of 5 stars A good read
I enjoyed reading this book because of the dog, Rochester, I like thrillers, especially if they have pets in them. This book was intriguing and full of twists, which kept up the suspense. The characters were well crafted and believable.