Heather’s Bookshelf: Oh, Henry
Author: Joanne Alain Cook
Released: 12/15/21
Genre: Murder Mystery
“He paused. I was sure he was going to kiss me, desperately wished he would kiss me, silently ordered him to kiss me, but he didn’t kiss me. I closed the door after he left, wondering why all the secondary characters were kissing me and the primary one wasn’t.”
“Oh, Henry” introduces Sarah, a young woman training to become a pharmacist. She’s a bit of a loner, but all that changes when she meets a man at a pharma conference. Josh is funny, a little chatty, and handsome. Sarah can’t help but to think their meeting may be destiny. But when he goes to Tokyo for a two-week trip, he leaves his dog with her.
Josh’s dog Henry is a hound dog. He appears docile and friendly enough, but Sarah’s never had a dog before. She follows Josh’s instructions but soon finds out how much she hasn’t been told. Bringing Henry to the dog park, she meets a group of people all connected by their four-legged loves. Of course, some are more friendly than others.
Mrs. Bennet seems helpful at first, but soon reveals her true nature. Meanwhile, the “rule breakers and deadbeats” of the group are inviting and offer a friend group Sarah’s been craving. She notes a special connection with Matt, the handsome man with the labs. But things start going wrong and put Sarah and her friends in danger. Will she figure out who to trust before it’s too late?
Trigger Warning: adult language, violence, death, drugs, sexual situations
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. It was the perfect amount of fun, mystery, and romance. It’s a fast-paced tale that I basically could not put down. The main character of Sarah is likable and relatable—- self-conscious, damaged, and second guessing every decision she makes. She’s also smart, witty, and caring which is how she gets herself into doggie-sitting mode without having a whiff of experience with dogs. I liked how the author wrote her first-dog experiences (especially the horror of cleaning up the poo) and how her relationship with Henry developed throughout the story. I also liked the drama of the dog park and those within it. The ancillary characters were also well-developed and realistic. Everyone has known (or knows) a Mrs. Bennet or a George. The mystery was a little obvious to me, but the journey was still just as enjoyable. The ending was just about perfect (and what I was hoping for). I would love to read more stories about Sarah and Henry in the future.
I received a copy of this story in exchange of a fair and honest review.
OVERALL REVIEW:
A fun, quick read with interesting characters, a little mystery, some romance, and lot of dog!
Want to learn more about the author?
Check out my interview with Joanne Alain Cook
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Find it for purchase here or on Kindle Unlimited
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