Sunday? Beginnings! Here’s the beginning of Chapter 13 of CAT ON A HOT TIN WOOF, the upcoming Chet and Bernie mystery (April 14, preorders welcome). For newcomers to the series: 1. It can be read in any order. 2. The stories are narrated by Chet. 3. He’s a dog. 4. But NOT a talking one!

There’s an expression about looking sheepish. If you’ve had as much sheep experience as me, then you know it’s one of the best human expressions out there, catching the hey-you-caught-me look constantly on sheep faces as they wander around nibbling grass, which is basically their whole ballgame. Malachi, not at all sheeplike—lacking the wooly coat, walking around on two legs, never, at least in front of me, saying baa baa—was nevertheless looking sheepish right now.