The Chicks on the Case are thrilled welcome author pal Leslie Budewitz to the blog. Just out this week is the seventh entry in Leslie’s Spice Shop mystery series. What Chick Jennifer J. Chow said about the book: “In Between a Wok and a Dead Place, Leslie Budewitz serves a literary feast showcasing Seattle’s Chinatown-International District—spiced with murder. A complex mystery peppered with delectable recipes, inspiring quotes, and fascinating factoids.” And Leslie is generously doing a giveaway to one lucky commenter on today’s blog. One lucky reader will win their choice of a signed Spice Shop Mystery series book. (US and Canada only.)
That Doggie on the Cover
“Oh, look, an Airedale!” The woman pointed at the giant poster of the cover of Assault & Pepper, my first Spice Shop mystery, on an easel outside my arts festival booth. Then she turned to her companion, hidden by the edge of the table. “See, you’re a cover model.” From the cover of Assault and Pepper.
I leaned forward and peered down. Sure enough. The handsome black-and-tan pup looked just like Arf, the dog who lives with Pepper Reece, my main character, owner of the Spice Shop in Seattle’s Pike Place Market.
“You must have an Airedale,” she said, and the truth is, I don’t. Why an Airedale, I have no idea—but Arf’s pedigree was clear from the first time he set paw on page. Since then, readers have shared stories about Airedales and their cousins, the Welsh terrier, and I’ve drawn on my own experiences as a dog owner—most notably of Alfre, a long-gone retriever–Samoyed mix whom we fondly called a Remoyed. (Shown here in my watercolor version of all her huckleberry glory.)
Just as their human characters do, when a dog trots into a story, he brings his own history, his own personality, and sometimes, his own plans. Arf’s early life remains a mystery—after all, a guy’s got to have some secrets—but somewhere, he learned impeccable manners. He yips softly when he needs to go out and barks loudly at the sign of danger. When Pepper met him, he lived with Sam, an occasionally-homeless man accused of murder. How the two hooked up is another of those secrets. As a child in Memphis, Sam read the comics with his grandfather, and was fascinated by the dog in “Little Orphan Annie.” The dog was often shown with the word “Arf” in a balloon above his head, and Sam thought that the best name a dog could have. Of course, that wasn’t the artist’s intent, but it works for the two of them.
Pepper calls Arf “Mr. Ambassador” because even a reluctant witness will stop to talk to a well-behaved dog, giving her an opportunity for conversation. And walking the dog is the perfect excuse to snoop.
You can tell a lot about a person by their reaction to a dog. When I was writing Guilty as Cinnamon, I knew a character was a bad guy before the plot made that clear, when he recoiled from the dog. Naturally, there’s a chase and—well, no spoilers. Let’s just say it involves pants.
How the cover artists have found all the fabulous dog images, I don’t know, but I still smile at my editor’s comment that the befuddled expression Arf wears on the cover of Killing Thyme reflected how he felt most days.
Dog owners swear that dogs are great judges of character, and if your dog dislikes someone, walk away. Psychologists say they’re picking up on subtle cues we give them. Bah humbug, I say. Pepper knows better, and when Arf growls on a Market street corner in Peppermint Barked, she listens. Unfortunately, she mistakes which person Arf was warning her about, and trouble follows.
The writer always has to know where the dog is. Literary cats are easier—Erin in my Food Lovers’ Village series starts with one cat, a sable Burmese named Mr. Sandburg, and acquires a second, Pumpkin. (Modeled on our Ruff and Autumn.) She can follow a lead without worrying—they’ll probably still be on the same footstools when she got home as when she left, although I am not responsible for the shenanigans they get up to in the meantime. The need to keep track of the dog led both Pepper and me to consider doggy daycare in Between a Wok and a Dead Place, the seventh in the series (out this week!). After all, investigations sometimes take our sleuths places where dogs can’t go, despite their useful skills of sniffing, marking, and barking. Happily, the Spice Shop staff love the little guy too, and readily look after him.
And in case you’re wondering, yes, the woman who visited my booth with the cover model did buy the book. I have little doubt she read it to him, and they both enjoyed it. Dogs, after all, are excellent judges of character—and books.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Between a Wok and a Dead Place (out July 18 in paperback, ebook, and audio)
It’s the Lunar New Year, and fortunes are about to change.
Pepper Reece, owner of the Spice Shop in Seattle’s Pike Place Market, loves a good festival, especially one serving up tasty treats. So what could be more fun than a food walk in the city’s Chinatown–International District, celebrating the Year of the Rabbit?
But when her friend Roxanne stumbles across a man’s body in the Gold Rush, a long-closed residential hotel, questions leap out. Who was he? What was he doing in the dust-encrusted herbal pharmacy in the hotel’s basement? Why was the pharmacy closed up—and why are the owners so reluctant to talk?
As Pepper begins to expose the long-concealed truth, the killer is on her tail, driven by hidden demons and desires. Can she uncover the secrets of the Gold Rush Hotel without being pushed from the wok into the fire?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Leslie Budewitz writes the Spice Shop mysteries, set in Seattle, and Food Lovers’ Village mysteries, set in NW Montana where she lives. As Alicia Beckman, she writes moody suspense, including Bitterroot Lake and Blind Faith. The seventh Spice Shop mystery, Between a Wok and a Dead Place, will be out July 18. Find out more and where to buy the book at http://www.LeslieBudewitz.com. Join her on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/LeslieBudewitzAuthor or Instagram as www.Instagram.com/LeslieBudewitz , and find out what Leslie’s cooking and eating at www.MysteryLoversKitchen.com, where she posts on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Tuesdays.
Readers, do you have a favorite cozy animal character? Do you worry about the critters in the books you read? Bonus points if you have a story to share about an Airedale or a Welshie! Share in the comments. Remember one lucky commenter will be chosen by drawing for a signed copy of the winner’s choice of a book in Leslie’s Spice Shop Mystery series.
Chicks on the Case 
Congrats on your book release. I like all the animals, my favorite are cats.
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Thanks, Dru! So many fabulous fictional cats! (And my real-life supervisor, Mr. Kitten.)
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The animals in cozies are amazing. I see too few Boston terriers, my favorite. Sorry, but I have no stories to share of Airedales or Welshies.
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Hmm, can’t think of a book with a Boston terrier — or terrorist, as a friend calls hers — but they would make a great cozy dog!
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I like any animal in a story, but only if the owner remembers to, you know, feed it. Walk the dog, etc. I had to give Jim Duncan an understanding neighbor who can feed his dog when he can’t be at home because I didn’t want him to be accused of animal neglect. LOL
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LOL! Must have understanding neighbor! My outline has a phrase repeated throughout, in caps: Where is the dog/cat? (Right after “Weather.” Must remember to consider the weather!)
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I enjiy cozies with pets especially cats since I’ve always been a cat person. My first cozy obsession was The Cat Who… series by Lilian Jackson Braun so Ko Ko and Yum Yum will always be my favorites!
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They are unforgettable, aren’t they?
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Oh yes! And I have that series to thank for introducing me to cozies, so many wonderful books/series later all because of those kitties!
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Love your series and can’t wait to read this! I’m a dog person. But I do fall in love with friends’ cats when they let me. And Leslie, there are people who bought my Cajun Country Mystery series specifically because it had a basset hound on each cover! Our late beloved Lucy.
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“When they let me” — that’s the truth! I hope the new pup is settling in well.
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The second dog of my life was an Airedale. Her time to go came a few years ago. Seeing Arf on the beautiful covers of these books (and they truly are beautiful, Leslie) has always twanged my heart strings, prompting an outflow of loving warmth and a stinging dampness in the backs of my eyes. She was as treasured in my life as your characters treasure their animal companions in your stories. Isn’t it lovely the way a book can bring those feelings back to us? Thank you, Leslie, for this a pet-centered post, and all the Chicks on the Case for bringing her to us here today.
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Aw, Pamela! Now I’ve got a stinging dampness in the back of my eyes! Thank you for the kind words.
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So true about our protagonists having to keep track of their dogs! I once got an irate email from a reader who was upset that Sally left her dog Buster in the car while she ran into her restaurant to get something. (But it was a cool, foggy day, and the top was down on the T-Bird convertible, I wrote back, so Buster was fine.)
I’ve loved Airedales since my pre-teen days when they had one at the place where I took horseback riding lessons–but all terriers are terrific!
Congrats on the new book–such a marvelous title!
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Thanks, Leslie! I’m having that very issue with the WIP — happily, it’s April in Seattle and cool and damp!
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Leslie, congrats on your latest book! I enjoy reading about all kinds of animals in cozies!
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Thanks, Jen, and I so appreciate your kind words about the book!
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Marshmallow!!!
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I love that so many cozy sleuths have pets. Covers with cute dogs and cats definitely attract my attention. I am afraid I don’t have any stories about Airdales. Although I had a fun-loving toy poodle that loved pizza so much that he would run to the living room and jump on top of the couch so he could see out the window, anxiously awaiting the delivery of the pizza, as soon as he heard that a pizza was being ordered. Then he was so excited he would bark like crazy when the pizza was being delivered, scaring many a delivery person despite his 6 lbs body. Guess who always got the first bite?
The book sounds fabulous. I like exploring Chinatowns in different cities.
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What a fun story! The pizza pup! And yes, Chinatowns are fascinating. I really enjoyed researching this book, and hope you enjoy the trip — on the page!
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Congratulations on this book. I like pets as side kicks in cozies. I especially like the cats!
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They are the cat’s meow!
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Leslie … that is a gorgeous watercolor! You’re a woman of many talents, it’s clear. I love Arf, but don’t get me started on all my doggie characters. I will say that in my new series, Twist is a white German shepherd who looks an awful lot like a dog I grew up with.
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Thanks! As for Twist, you know all his antics — and it will be easy to throw in a plot twist! (Groan)
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I love all animals. My favorite in a cozy is Diesel in A Cat In The Stacks Mysteries. I do worry about the animals in the books I read. Thank you for this chance!
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Diesel is a charmer, isn’t he?
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I have 2 dogs and a cat. I love cozies that have animals in them. Life would be pretty boring without my furry sidekicks.
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I so agree! Although Mr. Kitten just tried to send an email by swatting at my hands as I was typing. I think he just wanted to play — so we did!
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Leslie, thanks for visiting us Chicks, and congrats on BETWEEN A WOK AND A DEAD PLACE, yay!! (Great title.) Enjoyed your post–and wow, you are a talented artist. I have a cat in my Ladies Smythe & Westin series named Mr. Bitey, based on a real-life NYC cat my daughter used to feed when her friends were away. (Watch out, Becky and Cynthia, she lives in CO now!) My WIP contains a scrappy cat named Banshee and a large senior dog named (Irish) Rover.
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Thanks, Lisa! It can be a lot of fun to name those fictional critters, can’t it? And we never have to feed them or change their litter boxes!
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Love animals in cozies – too hard to choose a favorite.
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They all add their own flavor, don’t they?
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Big fan of pets in cozies, every cat, dog, even Jethro the polka dot pig in the Amish Candy Shop series. No Airedale stories, but do love Arf. He is totally a keeper.
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A polka dot pig — too funny! So glad you enjoy Arf — he’s a keeper!
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Congrats onthe new book — and thanks for hanging out today with the Chicks!
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Thanks — my pleasure!
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I like both cats and dogs. We have had a variety of pets through the years so I am fairly open. I do worry about the pets in cozies who come in contact with the killer.
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Ah, yes. I cheered a bit recently when a little dog bit the killer! (On the page, but I’d cheer IRL, too!)
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Love animals in cozies! And so agree that your covers are lovely, Leslie. Congrats on your latest book–can’t wait to read–and thanks for visiting us today.
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I love dogs. A house is not a home unless there is a dog in it. You may not even be looking at them or petting them, but there is a good vibe there that isn’t there when they are gone. I love Chinatown especially the one in San Francisco. Good food. We have an area here in Atlanta that has good restaurants and some shops. A really good friend in the 1970s raised and showed Airedales. They were so cool. I went to Hollywood with her to go to a dog show to watch the Airedales one time. Your books are the best and if the contest is not over, I hope to be included.
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