Murder mysteries . . . with dogs!
Guinevere ‘Gwinny’ Tuffel is a retired actress who takes up dog-sitting to make ends meet. But despite her age and outward appearance, Gwinny is a sharp-minded puzzle-solver, and has a habit of stumbling across curious murders which nobody else can solve.
Each book in the series features a different breed, making a fun, light read for lovers of both dogs and mysteries everywhere.
(PS Nothing bad happens to the dogs)
“A country house, a body in the library, a cast of dodgy wedding guests, and a prickly, dog-loving sleuth . . . Simply delightful!”
Vaseem Khan
“Cosy crime, dogs, and a fabulous heroine; what more could a reader ask for? The Dog Sitter Detective is a fantastic read”
Hannah Hendy
The Dog Sitter Detective
Winner of the Barker Book Award for fiction
Retired actress Guinevere ‘Gwinny’ Tuffel is finding life hard after inheriting her late father’s run-down home and discovering she’s broke. But Gwinny’s delighted to be at her best friend Tina’s country house, for Tina’s wedding to a handsome Italian business magnate . . . until the husband-to-be is found dead in the library and Tina is accused of the murder.
Convinced of her friend’s innocence, Gwinny must piece together the truth and uncover the real killer from a pool of larger-than-life suspects, who all have something to hide . . . while also looking after Tina’s expensive saluki dogs!
“A fun, witty page-turner. If Dawn French doesn’t play Gwinny in the TV series, there is no justice in the world!”
Ian Moore
“Brilliantly, compellingly, entertainingly written”
Catie Murphy
Calling Book Groups . . .
Is your book group reading The Dog Sitter Detective?
We’ve prepared some discussion topics for you to help get the conversation started.
Click here to download a free PDF.
“Delightfully warm-hearted . . . curl up with a cuppa, a blanket (and maybe a furry companion or two) and just enjoy”
Katy Watson
“A clever whodunit with plenty of clues, red herrings and misdirection”
Fiona Veitch Smith
The Dog Sitter Detective
Takes the Lead
Gwinny Tuffel is preparing for her first acting role in a decade in the West End, but she is still dog-sitting on the side to keep the wolf from the door. So, when ageing rock star Crash Double needs help with his Border Collie, she jumps at the chance. After all, looking after the charming Ace on Crash’s Little Venice houseboat shouldn’t be an onerous task. But that’s before the singer’s dead body surfaces during the annual Canal Carnival festivities.
While the police dismiss the death as an accident, Gwinny suspects murder most foul. With a medley of suspects and some far-fetched motives to make heads or tails of, it is up to Gwinny, with Ace’s on the ground knowledge, to make sure the killer faces the music!
“The Dog Sitter Detective Takes the Lead is a dog-lover’s treat, and Gwinny is a delight”
SJ Bennett
“This book is a ton of fun, and I’d wager it’ll even convert cat people into dog lovers. A smashing modern cosy crime novel”
Alice Bell
Calling Book Groups . . .
Is your book group reading The Dog Sitter Detective Takes the Lead?
We’ve prepared some discussion topics for you to help get the conversation started.
Click here to download a free PDF.
“I loved it. A round of a-paws for this marvellous, collie-ful mystery tail”
TE Kinsey
“Antony Johnston has done it again – funny, endearing and with a juicy mystery to solve”
Jonathan Whitelaw
The Dog Sitter Detective
Plays Dead
Winner of the Puzzly Book of the Month
Gwinny Tuffel is on location in the misty Yorkshire Dales filming a small part in Draculania, a gender-swapped remake of Bram Stoker’s classic tale, when life begins to imitate art a little too closely. One of the cast members is found dead inside a locked trailer, with a stake through their heart.
With a prima donna in the starring role, filming is already facing delays, while Gwinny is being run ragged by Lily, the Jack Russell terrier she's looking after for a friend in hospital. Against the backdrop of Hendale Hall with its own vampire legend, a flesh-and-blood killer has struck. Will Gwinny be able to find the murderer before the production or any further victims are cut?
“Another fine cosy crime caper from the master of the genre. I adored it”
Josie Lloyd
“Ten barks out of ten – an absolute romp of a book”
Orlando Murrin
“Dark deeds on the set of a vampire movie. Great fun”
Suk Pannu
Calling Book Groups . . .
Is your book group reading The Dog Sitter Detective Plays Dead?
We’ve prepared some discussion topics for you to help get the conversation started.
Click here to download a free PDF.
“A fantastic page-turner with Johnston’s characteristic warmth and wit. The perfect read on a cosy night”
Katherine Black
“I loved it. Like Lily the Jack Russell, I tore through the story”
JM Hall
And there’s more coming soon . . .
The Dog Sitter Detective,
Book 4
In 2023, Antony signed up to write books 3 & 4 in the series.
Click here to read the announcement in The Bookseller.
About the Author
Antony Johnston is a New York Times bestseller and the creator of Atomic Blonde. For more than twenty years he’s written books, graphic novels, videogames, film, and more – much of it with a snoozing hound curled up in his study.
His work is known for strong, memorable female protagonists with a unique voice and social conscience.
Antony is a former vice chair of the Crime Writers’ Association, a member of International Thriller Writers and the Society of Authors, and a Shore Scripts screenwriting judge.
Sign up to Antony's free author newsletter here.
You can also read more at his website, and follow him on social media at Bluesky, Instagram, X, and Threads.
“Johnston is brilliant at crafting charming characters and shrewd, satisfying mysteries. The Dog Sitter Detective series is cosy crime at its very best”
Tom Mead
“Johnston is a writer who knows how to entertain and glue the reader to the pages”
Liberi di Scrivere
The Dog Sitter Detective books are published by Allison & Busby.
Visit them here.