A Mutt in Time

I’ll admit: I rolled my eyes at the ‘small dog, big personality’ premise. We’ve all heard it. But *A Mutt in Time* won me over in under 10 minutes—not because Mushu is *cute*, but because she’s a *menace* in the best way. The story’s strength lies in its specifics: the way Mushu weaponizes her ‘fragile’ appearance to manipulate humans, or the running gag about her ‘arch-nemesis’ (a vacuum cleaner that may or may not be plotting her demise). Inmon’s writing is tight, with jokes that land without overshadowing the quieter moments, like the dog’s baffled loyalty to her flawed human. Holly Adams’ narration is a masterclass in comedic timing. She doesn’t lean into cutesy ‘dog voice’ tropes; instead, she delivers Mushu’s inner monologue with the gravitas of a disgruntled CEO reviewing her underlings’ failures. (‘*Again* with the leash? Do I look like a *prisoner* to you?’) The human characters get equally distinct treatment—particularly the long-suffering owner, whose sighs Adams renders with perfect, exhausted pitch. My only gripe? The ending wraps up a touch too neatly, softening the story’s otherwise delightfully chaotic edge. And at 2.5 hours, it’s over before you’re ready to let Mushu go. Still, for anyone who’s ever been outsmarted by a 12-pound dictator in fur, this is a must-listen. Just maybe don’t play it while your own dog is in the room—*they’ll get ideas*.