The French (Bulldog) Connection (by Melissa Yi)

I love dogs.

I love my first dog, Olo, who would wait up at 1 a.m. to greet me when I came home from my ER shift.

I love my now-dog Roxy, whom I adored from the first moment she lick-lick-licked my hand in the shelter.

Yet it didn’t occur to me to write short dog mysteries until author Kristine Kathryn Rusch asked me to create a story from a canine perspective. I penned “My Two-Legs,” where Star, a yellow lab/golden retriever, inspired by Olo, rescues her human. It was published in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine and won the Derringer Award, was shortlisted for the Macavity Award, and longlisted for the Staunch Prize. Cool!

For some reason, probably because I’m dense, I didn’t write a related tale until Hitchcock’s Editor in Chief, Linda Landrigan, mentioned that she’d enjoy another doggy detective story from me.

Huh!

How could a second dog solve a mystery? And why?

I researched dogs and crimes and was astonished to learn that, since 2022, the most popular breed in the United States, overtaking the Labrador retriever, is the French bulldog. No wonder people stole Lady Gaga’s two “Frenchies” in 2021.

Should I focus on a doggy kidnapping?

I imagined a French bulldog named Claude. Claude began to grow on me, with his snuffly breathing, his stubby little legs, and his penchant for sleeping.

I also felt for his human, Mrs. Lee, who doted on Claude in her Montreal apartment.

How would the villains separate Claude from Mrs. Lee?

How could Claude save himself and foil the villains? My family has never adopted anything but big, active, loving rescue dogs. I’m not familiar with purebreds with built-in health problems like respiratory disorders and skin fold dermatitis.

But I loved the idea of a tiny canine hero who might fight the odds in order to save the day, reunite with his human, and nibble on a treat.

Then I turned my pen to a third dog, inspired by our rescue mountain cur, Bell. When we adopted her, she was so thin that her ribs were showing, and she would watch us scoop up her food like it was a magic show. But that’s literally another story.

I hope you enjoy “For Love and Bacon,” in Alfred Hitchcock’s September/October issue.

In the meantime, please hug your dogs. Treasure their soft ears and huge hearts. I will never get over their unconditional love and loyalty. Dogs and books for the win!