Some people love dogs. Some people love books. The best people on your gift list love both, and they are a joy to shop for, because a good story with a great dog in it makes them happy every time.
I'm Les Erschen Jr, and our whole company is named for a dog. Little Bear was a 34-pound, all-black Pomeranian raised by pit bulls. He feared nothing, loved the water, could lounge on a pool float playing catch with a water ball for hours, and made everyone he met fall in love with him on the spot. He was the king of our house, which is why we are the King Bear Squad. Every King Bear Squad mystery is dedicated "For Little Bear."
The books in this guide are mine, so I'll tell you honestly what is inside. Amazon prints, ships and sells them.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Quick picks
- Where the town blames the dog: Murder at the Harvest Howl. Paperback on Amazon
- For Kindle readers: The Case of the Crooked Crown, young Little Bear's first case. Kindle on Amazon
- For a Christmas gift: Murder Under the Mistletoe. Paperback on Amazon
- For pit bull people: Murder at the Founders' Fair. Paperback on Amazon
Meet the real dogs behind the books
- Little Bear: the black Pomeranian with a big heart and a bigger opinion of himself. In the books he wears a gold crown tag and solves cases with his people. Our motto for him is simple: size is a rumor.
- Aragon: Little Bear's dad in every way that counts, a pit bull who raised him. He inspired the old pit bull in our prequel story.
- Bella: a scruffy, sassy 18-pound wire-haired terrier who likes almost nobody. In the Evelyn books, she picks Evelyn as her new best friend.
- Versace: a brindle pit bull mix who is as sweet as can be. She is the only witness in Case 5.
What dog lovers want in a story
- A dog with real personality, not a prop.
- A dog who matters to the plot.
- A promise that the dog will be fine. In every King Bear Squad book, no animal is ever harmed.
- A cozy tone: small town, good neighbors, and no gore.
Our picks for dog lovers who love to read
Murder at the Harvest Howl: the town blames the dog
Every October the town of Bearberry Hollow throws a party for its dogs, and this year it ends with a body at the bottom of the cider mill stairs. By morning, the whole town has decided Little Bear did it. His owner, retired 911 dispatcher Birdie Callahan, has six days before the Dangerous Dog Hearing to prove them wrong, with help from a dachshund who digs and a basset hound who howls at secrets.
It is a cozy mystery you solve as you read. Each of the 50 short chapters comes with a large print word search, and the leftover letters spell the next clue. It is Case 1 of the King Bear Squad Mysteries and the best place to start.
The Case of the Crooked Crown: young Little Bear's first case
For the dog lover who reads on a Kindle, this short prequel shows Little Bear as a young pup with a crooked crown tag and the fearless heart of the old pit bulls who raised him. When a famous blackberry pie vanishes from the Harvest Howl, the town blames the local beagle, and Little Bear and the old pit bull who raised him have three days to follow their noses to the truth. It is about a two-hour read, and no dog is harmed.
Murder Under the Mistletoe: a stray terrier in trouble
Trouble at the Holiday Market, and everyone blames a scruffy stray terrier. The Squad knows better. This winter case is a natural Christmas gift for anyone who has ever brought home a dog nobody else wanted.
Murder at the Founders' Fair: Versace takes the stand
Bearberry Hollow turns two hundred, and the only witness is Versace, the sweetest brindle pit bull in town. Pit bull people, this one is for you.
For the young dog lover in the family
Our Evelyn books bring the same dogs to readers ages 6 to 9, with gentle mysteries, coloring pages and activities. There are no villains and nothing scary. Little Bear is there, Bella picks Evelyn as her best friend, and Moose the gentle giant rests his big head on her sneakers. Start with Evelyn and the Bearberry Treasure Map.
Put their dog in a puzzle
For a one-of-a-kind gift, our custom word search (from $59.99) can hide their dog's name, nicknames, favorite toys and walking spots in one printable puzzle, along with the family's names. The leftover letters spell a secret message you choose, like "Best dog ever" or "Good boy, Buddy." It arrives by email within 2 business days with an answer key.
Small extras for dog people
These are not our products, and we have not tested them. Each link opens an Amazon search so you can compare options and reviews yourself.
- Puzzle toys for dogs: our books are full of puzzles, and these are puzzles for the dog. Pick the right size for their pup.
- Pomeranian socks: for our fellow Pom people. Little Bear is the reason this one is on the list.
- A rechargeable book light: for reading with a dog asleep on your lap and no plans to move.
Gift tips for the dog-loving reader
- Pair the book with a treat for their dog, so everyone in the house gets a present.
- Tuck a photo of their dog inside the cover as a bookmark.
- Write the inscription from your dog to theirs. It always gets a laugh.
- Give a series. Start with Case 1, then add one case for each season.
See every book in one place on our Our Books on Amazon page. From Little Bear and the whole Squad, happy reading, and give your dog a scratch behind the ears for us.