Guard Dogs and Guitars

About This Audiobook

Bailey Booth’s *Guard Dogs and Guitars* isn’t your typical cozy mystery—it’s a snappy, genre-blending romp where the stakes feel real but the vibes are pure small-town charm. When country legend Benson Bridges’ prized guitar vanishes overnight, his shaggy hound Duke and a wisecracking tabby named Earl step up as unlikely detectives. The twist? Earl’s a talking cat with a taste for conspiracy theories and a knack for reading human emotions, while Duke’s loyalty borders on obsession. Their investigation unravels a conspiracy that stretches from backstage at a honky-tonk to the shadowy corners of the music industry, all wrapped in the grit and glitter of Nashville’s lesser-known lanes. The writing crackles with wit, avoiding the saccharine pitfalls of other cozy mysteries by grounding its humor in sharp character dynamics and a mystery that doesn’t talk down to its audience.

What makes this audiobook sing is its dual appeal: it’s a mystery for readers who want clever clues without the bloodshed, and it’s a celebration of found family for anyone who’s ever rooted for the underdog (or under-paw). The narration by Jillian Yetter is a standout—she doesn’t overact the talking animals but instead gives them distinct, sardonic voices that elevate Earl’s one-liners and Duke’s gruff, protective tone. The pacing is relentless, with each chapter peeling back another layer of the guitar’s disappearance, all while drip-feeding red herrings that feel organic rather than gimmicky. If you’ve ever wished Columbo were a feline or missed the golden age of detective duos, this is the audiobook you’ll want on repeat.