Murder in the Dog Park by Robert J. Ristino is a cozy murder mystery that is perfect for anyone who enjoys the genre. Octogenarian friends Bob and George are proud ROMEOs (Retired Old Men Eating Out), who eat out every Tuesday. One of their breakfasts at Belfast’s Bell the Cat Restaurant is interrupted by a frantic call that makes them rush to the local dog park. Maddie Handly, an acquaintance, has discovered a body in a doghouse, and it turns out to be Jedediah Folke. What started as an attempt to comfort a friend quickly morphs into a labyrinthine investigation by the duo, involving a Rottweiler named Brutus, missing drugs worth millions, and enemies with motives ranging from betrayal to blackmail. The duo ignores warnings from Sergeant Foster and continues their sleuthing, which delivers an unexpected twist in the story. Robert J. Ristino’s novel appeals mostly because of the vividly drawn characters. The two key characters are genuinely flawed, elderly men trying to solve a murder. George is a publishing entrepreneur with a bloodhound’s droopy features, unruly hair, and deteriorating knees. His buddy, Bob, is a suspense thriller writer, a man with a sharp tongue and a close-cropped beard. The sleuthing makes the humor most effective, a blend of geriatric persistence and the traditional amateur detection. It was fun watching the duo trespass in suspects’ barns, interview dog park regulars, and analyze forensic details such as wood splinters and paint flecks. Murder in the Dog Park features cleverly crafted dialogues, evidenced in the banter between Bob and George, which, infused with vernacular, adds to the authenticity in characterization and setting.
