The Sound and the Furry: A Review

I think I was half-way through this book before I realized I was saying the title wrong. The word in the title was “Furry” and not “Fury.” This is the first book I have read that is in the Chet and Bernie mysteries by Spencer Quinn. It is not the first book in the series, (it is actually the sixth) and after having read it, I can say that I don’t think it made any difference to me that I had not read the earlier books. I was able to grasp the characters and their relationships just fine.

The book is narrated in first-person by Chet. Chet is Bernie’s dog. He has many characteristics you would expect in a dog. He is fiercely loyal to Bernie. He experiences things through his nose and his ears to a degree that humans can’t begin to fathom. Chet can understand English words quite well (he would have to if he is the narrator) but metaphors and figures of speech throw him. Check out this example when Bernie is counting out money:

“Three grand on the nose,” Bernie said, although he didn’t put it anywhere near his nose.

After a few of these, I was thinking that this shtick might get annoying before I got to the end of the book. It actually grew on me, and I found I didn’t mind it so much. We see Bernie (as we see the world) through Chet’s biased eyes.

The mystery itself gets as convoluted as the bayous it takes place in, and I am not sure it completely wrapped up all the loose ends, but it seems to more or less come together in the end. It is entertaining and I will probably read more in the series.

Star Liner

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