Cozy mysteries have grown significantly in popularity over the years, often due to an appreciation for the less graphic themes and language used in them. Even within a subgenre like cozies, there are still further subdivisions to be found. One of the more prominent themes in cozy mysteries is the inclusion of pets, especially popular animals such as dogs.

These are just a few of the many authors who incorporate canines into their works in one way or another, often as significant roles.

Lydia Adamson: The protagonist of Adamson’s Deirdre Quinn Nightingale mystery series is a crime fighting veterinarian.

Donna Ball: A dog ex-tracker is accompanied by a Golden Retriever in Ball’s series.

Cynthia Baxter: Baxter’s Reigning Cats & Dogs mystery series has many dogs and puppies who get involved in this cozy mystery series.

Carol Lea Benjamin: Benjamin’s cozy mystery series features a dog trainer who is also a sleuth.

Laurien Berenson: Berenson’s cozy mystery series features a Special Ed. teacher who participates in dog shows when she’s not sleuthing.

Michael Bond: The Monsieur Pamplemousse mystery series by Michael Bond features a dog sidekick named Pommes Frites (French Fries.)

Rita Mae Brown: The Mrs. Murphy books feature a Corgi and some cats who do most of the sleuthing on their own.

Nancy Bush: The Jane Kelly mystery series includes a Pug.

Ann Campbell: A Siberian Husky/German Shepherd mix is the canine partner in Campbell’s mystery series.

Melissa Cleary: The Dog Lovers mystery series is written by Cleary, and features a professor as the sleuth.

Susan Conant: Conant writes the Holly Winter mystery series which features a dog trainer who is also a writer for a magazine about dogs.

Evelyn David: The Sullivan Investigations mystery series is about an Irish Wolfhound and his mortician owner.

Patricia Guiver: A Doberman Pinscher is the sidekick in Guiver’s Pet Detective series.

David Handler: A Basset Hound features in Handler’s Stewart Hoag & Lulu series.

Sue Henry: Henry writes two mystery series for dog lovers. The first is about an elderly widow who travels with her Dachshund and solves crimes, while the second is about an Alaskan dog sled racer.

Lee Charles Kelley: Kelley’s Continuing Adventures of Jack & Jamie includes a sleuth who trains dogs for a living.

Virginia Lanier: Lanier pens a mystery series about a Bloodhound trainer/tracker/sleuth.

Judy McCoy: The Dog Walker mystery series can also be considered a paranormal themed series, since the protagonist is a dog walker who can communicate telepathically with her charges.

Leslie O’Kane: Allie Babcock is a dog therapist who solves crimes in O’Kane’s series.

Dana Stabenow: Set in Alaska, Stabenow’s Kate Shugak mystery series has dog companions.

Maggie Toussaint: Toussaint’s Cleopatra Jones mystery series features a St. Bernard.

Peggy Webb: A Basset Hound helps out in the Southern Cousins mystery series by Peggy Webb.

Nina Wright: An Afghan Hound assists the protagonist of Wright’s Whiskey Mattimoe series.

Though this isn’t a comprehensive list of mystery authors who write books with canine sidekicks, it does include a number of the more prominent ones.  From these authors, you can generally get an idea if you enjoy mysteries featuring a canine sidekick for the star sleuth.

Taylor writes on a variety of mystery subjects, including cozy mystery themes and mystery books.