Sneezes and Secrets
(2026)(The first book in the Pugs Cozy Mystery series)
A novel by Amanda Sterczyk
Retirement in a charming British village was supposed to be quiet. Then the pugs started talking back.
Reginald "Reg" Thorne is done with secrets. After a career as a logistics manager and two years living out of a suitcase, he’s ready to embrace the life of a retired gentleman in the rustic village of Whiskerleigh. His only companions are his two faithful pugs, Pudding and Pickles—who, thanks to a specialized herbal blend, can actually speak to him.
But the peace is shattered when a malicious rumor begins to spread faster than a case of pink eye. Local gossip Ivor Heard is telling everyone that Reg’s landlord, the kind-hearted Dr. Barnaby Sniffles, is the source of a highly contagious "Wasting Sneeze".
With clients canceling in droves and the prickly RSPCA inspector Octavia Prigg threatening to shutter the clinic for code violations, Reg realizes his new home—a flat right above the surgery—is on the line.
To save his home and the local businesses, Reg must launch an "Investigative Strut". With Pudding acting as an exam-room therapy dog and Pickles managing the waiting room, this motley crew of humans and hounds has only forty-eight hours to unmask the source of the rumors and pass a high-stakes inspection.
If you love quirky talking animals, 80s hard rock anthems, and mysteries where the only thing "fatal" is a misunderstanding, jump into the first book of the Pugs Cozy Mysteries!
🐶 A Purchase You Can Feel Good AboutSneezes and Secrets is proud to support animal welfare. 5% of the profits from this book are donated to animal rescues, starting in Ottawa, Canada, and expanding globally. Help Reg keep his apartment, and help real pets find theirs.
Genre: Cozy Mystery