Cat on A Hot Tin Woof
Chet and Bernie Series Book 16
Spencer Quinn
Minotaur Pub
April 2026
Cat On a Hot Tin Woof by Spencer Quinn has the Little Detective Agency run by Bernie with his furry partner Chet asked to find the internet sensation Miss Kitty, a missing cat. Chet is the narrator and as just as most dog owners, Quinn puts words into his mouth.
Miss Kitty belongs to Bitty, a sweet teenage girl who lives with her mom, Evelyn. Bitty and her mother are struggling financially, but the arrival of Miss Kitty and the chance discovery of her social media appeal has changed everything. Bitty now has sponsors, a high-powered agent, and all the tools needed to thrive online, and real money is flowing in. At least, it was. With Miss Kitty gone, the family’s income is on the line.
The mystery explores social media influencers and the vast amounts of money that companies spend to have their products posted on social media.
Chet is not a fan of cats ever since Chet flunked out of the K9 police academy because of what he did to a cat. There is also a secondary storyline of some trouble in paradise for Bernie’s ex-wife Leda and her hubby.
This is a fun mystery that will keep readers smiling throughout and turning the pages to see who cat nipped Miss Kitty.
Elise Cooper: Idea for the series?
Spencer Quinn: In many earlier books the stories were much darker with a third person narration. I enjoyed writing about dogs, and they were part of the story. My wife suggested the idea of writing mysteries modeled on the Sherlock Holmes narrative where the sidekick tells the story in the first person. But the sidekick should be a dog, not a talking dog. Some people think this series are cozies but since sometimes dark things happen, they are not in that genre.
EC: How did you get the idea for this book?
SQ: When I began this series in 2009, I do not think there were social media influencers. Now we are moving to a society where everyone will be an influencer or influenced. I do not want to be either. The dog, Chet, has always had a problem with cats. I decided to combine an internet famous cat influencer.
EC: What was the role of Kitty the cat?
SQ: As an influencer the cat was very valuable and worth a lot of money. Chet and Bernie were hired to find this cat who was taken very quickly. I came up with the name because it rhymes with Bitty.
EC: How did you come up with the title?
SQ: Chet has a Facebook page. When I have an idea for a book I write a post. Any reader who suggests the title and I use it gets a signed book copy. I love that kind of reader interaction.
EC: Were you influenced by dog owners who put words to the dog thoughts?
SQ: Yes, just as Shakespeare had Hamlet turn to the audience and recite a soliloquy so the audience knows what is going on in their mind. Similarly, we all talk to our dogs and never lie to them. People say what is in their heart to their dogs. They also can communicate with their owner without talking.
EC: How would you describe Chet?
SQ: He is a 100 plus pounder. His ears do not match. Chet is a mix of some sort. He can bounce back to his reset position very quickly, to have joy in life. I love writing in his voice. I try to keep the human qualities out. He is not a human in a dog suit.
EC: What about the relationship between Chet and Bernie?
SQ: They have a great love for each other, the beating heart of this series. To Chet, Bernie can do no wrong.
EC: How would you describe Bernie?
SQ: Bernie is a war hero, heroically saving a lot of those in his platoon. He is not a salesman at all and financially is not doing very well. He is an introvert. He is dogged when trying to solve a case.
EC: What about Evelyn and Bitty?
SQ: Evelyn, the mom, and Bitty, are Kitty’s owners. They are a divorced family. Bitty’s father is a bad guy. They have a stroke of luck when Miss Kitty becomes popular. I am hoping they are seen as sympathetic characters. Bitty has some childlike elemental goodness in her.
EC: What about Leda and Weatherly?
SQ: When the series starts Bernie is already divorced from Leda. Weatherly, his fiancé, is his true match. In some ways she is just like him. There is something magical about her. We are moving toward a wedding. In some books she plays a huge role but with this one she was not in it much. She is in more in the background in this story. Since this series has a multitude of characters and I always want to advance the story some characters have a bigger role than others.
EC: Next book?
SQ: It will be out in April 2027. The title is Raiders of the Lost Bark. The plot has competing paleontologists trying to find the giant desert tortoise thought to be extinct.
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