Hanna’s ‘Big Honey Dog Mysteries: Message in a Bauble’ Dog-Gone Delightful Holiday Tale, 4/5 star

Big Honey Dog Mysteries: Message in a Bauble by H. Y. Hanna

Honey, a Great Dane, doesn’t like the scowling old man that delivers a box of Christmas ornaments to Olivia, her human.  He’s just the school gardener, Olivia says, as she continues decorating the school hall for the Christmas fair.  One odd object, a bauble, gets tossed aside.  Honey goes closer to check it out. She discovers a message tucked inside but she’s too big to get her snout in there to pull it out.  Once out, the message seems to be from a child in distress.  Honey enlists the help of her canine pals, Tyson the Jack Russell Terrier, Suka the Siberian Husky, Ruffster the mongrel mutt, and Biscuit the Beagle, to solve the puzzle of the mysterious message.  Before the tale is done there’s a library, an ornery cat, a trek in the woods and a poisonous treat.

“Message in a Bauble” is a delightful tale that will capture the attention of both young and young-at-heart dog lovers.  The mystery is cleverly revealed.  The moral shared is that people (and messages) are not always what they appear.  I recommend “Message in a Bauble” as a perfect accompaniment to Christmas music, hot chocolate and a warm fire.