Rating: 
Summary: Dogged Pursuit of Justice
Review: A prominent Judge is found dead in his car, his throat ripped up, and his daughter's dog his only company. The police point the finger at the dog, a boxer named Roark. Jack Field, kennel owner and former cop, believes that there are no vicious dogs and that behavior problems can be solved with liver treats, a tennis ball or a good game of tug-o-war. He immediately takes Roark under his protection. Jack doesn't really want to get involved in the investigation, but he can't stand by while a dog is accused of murder! With the help of Jamie Cutter, medical examiner and love of his life, he dives into the tangled webs surrounding the murder. It's a race to the finish, as Jack and Jamie dodge bullets and search for clues.
The banter between Jack and Jamie is lively, and their romance adds extra interest to the story. The supporting ensemble is made up of shallow caricatures, but the main characters have complex histories and relationships. The plot gets a little too busy at times; it doesn't twist so much as become cluttered with numerous side adventures. There is a small logical flaw in part of the plot involving a diary that I found jarring, but not enough to ruin my enjoyment of the book.
Dog lovers will definitely get a kick out of the canine characters and will probably be interested in Jack's training techniques as well. Author Lee Charles Kelly has been a professional dog trainer for 10 years. Murder Unleashed is a quick, entertaining read and does not depend on having read the first Jack Field novel, A Nose for Murder.
Rating:
Summary: Dogged Pursuit of Justice
Review: A prominent Judge is found dead in his car, his throat ripped up, and his daughter's dog his only company. The police point the finger at the dog, a boxer named Roark. Jack Field, kennel owner and former cop, believes that there are no vicious dogs and that behavior problems can be solved with liver treats, a tennis ball or a good game of tug-o-war. He immediately takes Roark under his protection. Jack doesn't really want to get involved in the investigation, but he can't stand by while a dog is accused of murder! With the help of Jamie Cutter, medical examiner and love of his life, he dives into the tangled webs surrounding the murder. It's a race to the finish, as Jack and Jamie dodge bullets and search for clues. The banter between Jack and Jamie is lively, and their romance adds extra interest to the story. The supporting ensemble is made up of shallow caricatures, but the main characters have complex histories and relationships. The plot gets a little too busy at times; it doesn't twist so much as become cluttered with numerous side adventures. There is a small logical flaw in part of the plot involving a diary that I found jarring, but not enough to ruin my enjoyment of the book. Dog lovers will definitely get a kick out of the canine characters and will probably be interested in Jack's training techniques as well. Author Lee Charles Kelly has been a professional dog trainer for 10 years. Murder Unleashed is a quick, entertaining read and does not depend on having read the first Jack Field novel, A Nose for Murder.
Rating: 
Summary: Clash of the Titans
Review: As both a lover of mysteries and a dog trainer, one of my clients thought that I would greatly enjoy this book. I am sorry to say that I found the writing sophomoric, the plot simplistic, and the attempts at humor fell very flat. The dog training "tips" which my new client found so fascinating were very worrisome to me. I actually brought the book into my training classes as examples of what not to do with dogs. If you enjoy dimestore novels with almost comic-book plots, then this would be an enjoyable read. If you're looking for a serious mystery, then I suggest you look elsewhere.
Rating: 
Summary: Not quite what I'd hoped for
Review: As both a lover of mysteries and a dog trainer, one of my clients thought that I would greatly enjoy this book. I am sorry to say that I found the writing sophomoric, the plot simplistic, and the attempts at humor fell very flat. The dog training "tips" which my new client found so fascinating were very worrisome to me. I actually brought the book into my training classes as examples of what not to do with dogs. If you enjoy dimestore novels with almost comic-book plots, then this would be an enjoyable read. If you're looking for a serious mystery, then I suggest you look elsewhere.
Rating:
Summary: Didn't want it to end
Review: I read and enjoyed Kelley's first book, A Nose For Murder, as I'm a murder mystery fan and avid dog adorer. In this new book, Kelly seems to be settling down and getting really comfortable with the world and characters he's created. It was a great read, and I can't really explain, but while the voice is intelligent and knowledgeable, it's also light and humorous. I guess that's from Kelley's getting comfortable like I mentioned above.
I just got totally absorbed in the novel, and the ingenious plot had me guessing till the last minute which part of me whished would not soon come. The book was just so funny and engrossing, I didn't want it to end.
Rating:
Summary: I Want More!
Review: I really enjoyed reading this novel. I thought it was smart and sassy and funny. There were a couple of great villains, including one that all dog lovers will love to hate-Grant Goodrich, who's on a mission to rid the state of Maine of all pit bulls, Rottweilers, and other "vicious" breeds. Luckily, Jack Field, our hero, comes to their rescue. (He also solves a high-profile murder case.) The writing style is simple and breezy, yet clearly written by someone with a great deal of knowledge and intelligence. I actually learned a lot from this book. There are some truly hilarious moments, as well as some that had me on the edge of my seat, and others that are very romantic. Plus, Jack Field is a great character. And you know something, I kind of missed the characters when I finished reading it. I WANT MORE!!
Rating:
Summary: I Want More!
Review: Jack Fields is a former NYPD Detective. Now he and his god son Leon run a dog kennel in Maine. His girlfriend, Dr. Jamie Cutter, is the part-time medical examiner. When she gets called out to examine the body of the judge who had been missing, Jack must drive her because her car gets blocked in by debris from a storm. He had planned to drop her off and leave, but when he heard there was a dog involved, he became involved. Much to the chagrin of Sheriff Flynn. They had run ins on a previous murder investigation. Of course, it probably didn't help that Jack had solved that one instead of the sheriff. A boxer, Roark, was found inside the car with the judge. As yet no one has been able to get to the body because Roark was attacking them. Jack, using his alternative dog training methods, coaxed Roark out of the car with a tennis ball. The police believe that Roark killed the judge. Jack gets permission to house Roark at his kennel overnight. He does not believe Roark killed the judge. The next day Jack takes Roark to a local vets to hide him. He gives the dog a phony name. The vets office recognizes Roark, but as soon as they find out that Grant Goodrich was trying to get Roark to put him to sleep for killing the judge, they agreed the dog wasn't Roark. Farrell Woods' ten beagles come to stay at the kennel. Eventually Farrell Woods came by and Jack was able to get some much needed information about some things going on in town recently. Jamie and Jack keep digging and the identity of the real killer and the truth about what happened begin to come clearer. I truly enjoy this series. Jamie and Jack are great characters and their interaction is so well written. I love all books set in New England so the setting in Maine just adds to the story for me. The plot is always well constructed and there are plenty of twists and turns. I highly recommend this book and series. It is a great cozy mystery.
Rating:
Summary: Did the judge's dog kill him? Jack Fields investigates.
Review: Jack Fields is a former NYPD Detective. Now he and his god son Leon run a dog kennel in Maine. His girlfriend, Dr. Jamie Cutter, is the part-time medical examiner. When she gets called out to examine the body of the judge who had been missing, Jack must drive her because her car gets blocked in by debris from a storm. He had planned to drop her off and leave, but when he heard there was a dog involved, he became involved. Much to the chagrin of Sheriff Flynn. They had run ins on a previous murder investigation. Of course, it probably didn't help that Jack had solved that one instead of the sheriff. A boxer, Roark, was found inside the car with the judge. As yet no one has been able to get to the body because Roark was attacking them. Jack, using his alternative dog training methods, coaxed Roark out of the car with a tennis ball. The police believe that Roark killed the judge. Jack gets permission to house Roark at his kennel overnight. He does not believe Roark killed the judge. The next day Jack takes Roark to a local vets to hide him. He gives the dog a phony name. The vets office recognizes Roark, but as soon as they find out that Grant Goodrich was trying to get Roark to put him to sleep for killing the judge, they agreed the dog wasn't Roark. Farrell Woods' ten beagles come to stay at the kennel. Eventually Farrell Woods came by and Jack was able to get some much needed information about some things going on in town recently. Jamie and Jack keep digging and the identity of the real killer and the truth about what happened begin to come clearer. I truly enjoy this series. Jamie and Jack are great characters and their interaction is so well written. I love all books set in New England so the setting in Maine just adds to the story for me. The plot is always well constructed and there are plenty of twists and turns. I highly recommend this book and series. It is a great cozy mystery.
Rating:
Summary: Clash of the Titans
Review: Jack is a man who wants to forget his brilliance as a sleuth & psychologist in order to make a simple life with dogs. Jamie is a seemingly simple woman who wants romance, marriage & window treatments, despite being a brilliant pathologist. They chaffe each other even as they love each other, often while carrying wire-cutters as they look for evidence. Murder Unleashed is chock-a-block with wit, suspense, dog antics & training tips, jazz, police procedures, FBI profiling techniques, cooking ideas & the generosity of two people who love each other despite themselves, & love dogs for what they are. Wrap yourself up in Kelley: he's a great way to survive a rainy winter!
Rating:
Summary: The Perfect Balance
Review: This is a fast, furious, touching, and funny book, which means it's not your typical cozy. There are some plot elements that go outside the lines a little, but I found them very satisfying in the end. In fact, they made me think about certain things in a new way. Personally, I get tired of too much sex and violence in some mystery novels and too much cutesy-ness in others. It seems to me that Murder Unleashed strikes the perfect balance between the two. There's a romantic angle that is just great. And the detective, Jack Field, is the kind of character destined to become a mystery novel icon. At least I think so. It's very realistic, but not overly so. There are plenty of forensic details to satisfy the hard-core CSI fan, and enough dogs to fill the entire Westminster Kennel Club. There was even one scene, regarding what happened to the K-9 Corps dogs after the war in Vietnam ended, that brought tears to my eyes. Meanwhile, other scenes had me laughing my socks off. So, even if you prefer the "tea with the vicar" type of story or the "tough guys with guns" style, you might like this. I certainly did. A lot. It's in my "keeper" pile, meaning one of these rainy days I know I'll want to get it out and read it again.
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