In K-9 Cop: Case #1 – The Dreck Report by Erna Mueller a selfish cop named Spencer comes up short when it is time to getting into heaven. In order to make the cut, he must return to earth as a dog and help troubled boy Justin Andrews and his family pick up the pieces after the death of the boy’s mother. Meanwhile, Spencer must solve his own murder and come to terms with his relationship with his own father.

Erna Mueller does a terrific job with both the character development of canine Spencer and his human companions. In K-9 Cop: Case #1 – The Dreck Report, Mueller mixes mystery with humor as she allows the canine Spencer to retain many of his human habits, such as his addiction to coffee, when he comes back as a dog. Through patience and creative means, he manages to convey to Justin just how special a pet he really is. I enjoyed how Spencer came back from death to help the boy, but the boy does just as much to help the cop. In the end, their relationship is not the one-sided affair so often depicted in books.

K-9 will appeal to readers from the really young to the really old. It is the perfect audio book for sharing with the family, and it fills a real need for good boy-driven mysteries where a disability does not hinder a character from becoming a hero. My only negative remark about the book is about the sound effects. They sound canned and do little to enhance the story.

(Originally reviewed for Readers' Favorite)
( )

I love the cover and the storyline, a dead cop has to come back as a dog to redeem himself. I thought this would be a winner. I wasn’t wrong. K-9 is a fun and easy read for young and old alike. Who doesn’t like a feel good story?

Justin is very bright and bored by school. His mother passed away and he misses her so much. His father doesn’t understand him. Even though his sister does, he is often left to his own devices. We can only guess at the quests he will create for himself and the trouble he will get into.

Justin attends St Ignatius High School and fights against the constraints placed on him. I hate the thought that his curiosity and fire for life could be crushed by the strict school rules that get him in trouble for his juvenile pranks.

Meanwhile, in Chinatown, Lieutenant Spencer Whatley and Pepper were taking down a robbery. All clues lead back to an old case, which Spencer is determined to solve for his dad, who was killed while working it. Spencer is focused and driven. He emulated his father and became like a Pit Bull with a bone. It does not go well for Spencer.

K-9 takes a fun and whimsical turn, and a smile began to spread across my face. I thought this was going to be a fun and light read that would have me chuckling as I joined the adventure to capture the Cyber Killers and I was so right.

Spencer is a “Copzilla” to children. He’s flippant, arrogant and saying he’s a jerk is putting it mildly.

I laughed out loud, when Justin and Spencer meet. Well done, Erna! I love it! I love the spunky kid that is Justin. I can picture the scene in my mind…but I’m not telling. You will need to read the K-9 Cop to find out. It is well worth the time.

When Spencer swallows the chip the criminals are looking for, it puts him and Justin in grave danger.

I love that Spencer is turned away from Heaven and must go through the Jerk Redemption Program. See, what goes around does come around. :-)

Show and tell day at school is a real hoot. The kids and their pets make for a hilarious event. Now I know why dogs hate mailmen. LOL

K-9 is sad, tragic, funny, motivating, enlightening, cute, sweet – so many emotions came to the surface as I read along.

I cracked up at the skunk. OMG, what a fantastic touch.

I love happy ever after endings and in a book like K-9 Cop, I feet the ending, or should I say beginning, is everything I could ask for and more.

I read from beginning to end in one sitting. K-9 is a super fun read and a fantastic adventure with heavenly influence.

I can hardly wait for the next adventure with Justin and Pepper, and their new friends, Cody and King.

I received this ARC in return for an honest and unbiased review. ( )

Being a dog lover, this book intrigued me and I was not disappointed, almost like a very entertaining movie, and like a movie you won’t be able to put this one down until your finished.
Wait until you meet precocious Justin Andrew, and find out why he is deep trouble at school…walking in with all the condolences bouquets. Then you meet the obnoxious police detective Spencer Watley, and find out what these two have in common.
The book is a great read, aimed at teen readers; I enjoyed it as an adult, reminding me a bit of a Disney Shaggy Dog type movie. There are some hard losses, and murders, and some really great chuckles. Will Spencer redeem himself with the J.R.P. program?
Then we have hoodlums who want to kill a dog, now who would want to do such a thing? Greed is the answer, and while it is serious, it is rather funny as the dog is able to out smart them.
Will Spencer get what he wants or what he deserves, will Justin our young smart friend over come his injuries? You are about to find the answers to these and other questions, with a turn of these pages. I loved it!

I received this book through Pump Up Your Book Virtual Book Tours, and was not required to give a positive review. ( )

I love the cover and the storyline, a dead cop has to come back as a dog to redeem himself. I thought this would be a winner. I wasn’t wrong. K-9 is a fun and easy read for young and old alike. Who doesn’t like a feel good story?

Justin is very bright and bored by school. His mother passed away and he misses her so much. His father doesn’t understand him. Even though his sister does, he is often left to his own devices. We can only guess at the quests he will create for himself and the trouble he will get into.

Justin attends St Ignatius High School and fights against the constraints placed on him. I hate the thought that his curiosity and fire for life could be crushed by the strict school rules that get him in trouble for his juvenile pranks.

Meanwhile, in Chinatown, Lieutenant Spencer Whatley and Pepper were taking down a robbery. All clues lead back to an old case, which Spencer is determined to solve for his dad, who was killed while working it. Spencer is focused and driven. He emulated his father and became like a Pit Bull with a bone. It does not go well for Spencer.

K-9 takes a fun and whimsical turn, and a smile began to spread across my face. I thought this was going to be a fun and light read that would have me chuckling as I joined the adventure to capture the Cyber Killers and I was so right.

Spencer is a “Copzilla” to children. He’s flippant, arrogant and saying he’s a jerk is putting it mildly.

I laughed out loud, when Justin and Spencer meet. Well done, Erna! I love it! I love the spunky kid that is Justin. I can picture the scene in my mind…but I’m not telling. You will need to read the K-9 Cop to find out. It is well worth the time.

When Spencer swallows the chip the criminals are looking for, it puts him and Justin in grave danger.

I love that Spencer is turned away from Heaven and must go through the Jerk Redemption Program. See, what goes around does come around. :-)

Show and tell day at school is a real hoot. The kids and their pets make for a hilarious event. Now I know why dogs hate mailmen. LOL

K-9 is sad, tragic, funny, motivating, enlightening, cute, sweet – so many emotions came to the surface as I read along.

I cracked up at the skunk. OMG, what a fantastic touch.

I love happy ever after endings and in a book like K-9 Cop, I feet the ending, or should I say beginning, is everything I could ask for and more.

I read from beginning to end in one sitting. K-9 is a super fun read and a fantastic adventure with heavenly influence.

I can hardly wait for the next adventure with Justin and Pepper, and their new friends, Cody and King.

I received this ARC in return for an honest and unbiased review. ( )

Justin Andrews is in trouble with the principle – again. He’s a very smart kid that was placed two years ahead and excels in computer technology. Ever since his mom died, the family was struggling to reconnect. As their dad is driving him and his sister home, they are involved in a serious accident. Justin may never walk again without braces. Lieutenant Spencer Watley is having trouble of his own. He and his K9 partner, Pepper, were pursuing the Dreck brothers. Their backup had not arrived. Spencer was killed while Pepper was injured. The gatekeeper denied Spencer entry into heaven. He had to go back and redeem himself; it was called a Jerk Redemption Program. But, instead of returning as his former self, he returned in the body of his K9 partner. His assignment was Justin.

This is a fast paced story set in Seattle. The protagonist turns fourteen; I think this could be enjoyed by ages ten through fourteen. The characters were fun, even Spencer who was considered a jerk. His cranky attitude was shown through his thoughts; words; and actions. The author did a great job of gradually building the relationship between Spencer (as a dog) and Justin. There’s more to the story than one would think at the beginning. It is all weaved together very well. I rated K-9 Cop at 4 out of 5. ( )