Kristin's Bookshelf

The Dog Park Murders
By Angela Barker
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📅 Release Date: August 25, 2026

First of all, thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Harlequin for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This one feels extra special to me because it was actually the VERY FIRST book I ever requested on NetGalley. At the time, I had exactly zero reviews posted, so the fact that I got approved still feels a little shocking. I kept having to push it back while trying to meet tighter deadlines for other ARCs, but I’m really glad I finally got to it.

This was such a fun read and even had a little spice mixed in. The story follows Juliette after she discovers a body at the dog park and quickly realizes all signs are pointing directly at her. To clear her name, she teams up with Joel, the hunky local barista, and the two end up tangled in both a murder investigation and a slow-burn romance.

The grumpy/sunshine dynamic between Joel and Juliette was honestly one of my favorite parts. Their banter felt natural, and I found myself rooting for them pretty quickly despite the baggage both characters are carrying from their pasts. The supporting cast was also a lot of fun, especially Juliette’s sister Norah, along with a few characters that were absolutely designed for readers to love-hate.

I’d say this leans more cozy mystery than romance, but there’s definitely some chemistry and a little spice woven throughout. And at around 250 pages, this was pretty much the perfect length for me. Fast-paced, entertaining, and easy to fly through in a couple sittings.