Dog Walker

By: Jack McGuigan

Narrated by: Travis Baldree

Length: 5 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

Ben Carter, pet care specialist, is hired to walk a Shiba Inu named Toby. Unbeknownst to Ben, Toby is no ordinary dog but an inugami - an immortal demon born in feudal Japan and bred for only one purpose...murder.

A mysterious cult seeks to capture the inugami and harness its power for evil. With the help of an elderly luchador and a cop with a heart of gold, Ben must protect Toby and uncover the secret of the Tengu before the cultists can unleash the beast and the bloodlust claims the inugami once more.

©2016 Gorilla House (P)2022 Gorilla House

Toby and Ben

the narrator did an excellent job bringing this story to life!
as did the writer!

there is good character development in this book. I loved all characters! Even the hippy chick.
This wasn't so much a horror and just an exultant book about a dog walker, and demons.
this book would be great for anyone who loves a good fast paced story, dogs, great characters, with demons and the supernatural.



I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

An Enjoyably Fun, Fast Read

Ben Carter wants to be a writer but hasn’t been able to make that happen. In the mean time, he works as a dog walker. He gets an assignment to walk Toby, an easy going Shiba Inu. What Ben doesn’t know, but will soon find out is that Toby isn’t really a dog. Toby is actually a powerful inugami. A Japanese demon bred for murder. Toby is also being hunted by a cult that wants to use him for evil. “The Dog Walker” is a fun, fast read that’s a welcome change from vampires, werewolves and wizards. It’s definitely worth your time.

Finally, this audio book was provided by the author at no cost in exchange for an honest review, courtesy of Audio Book Boom.

Hilarious and twisted story

'Dog Walker' is about a pet care specialist named Ben who is hired to walk a Shiba Inu named Toby. Unbeknownst to him, Toby is also a inugami, an immortal demon born in feudal Japan. To make matters worse, a dangerous cult wants to use Toby for their own nefarious purposes.

What I liked about the story is it manages to be hilarious without turning into a farce. The stakes feel real and there's some genuine drama and pathos. I think this could easily make for a great horror-comedy film in the hands of someone like James Gunn.

Travis Baldree does a good job narrating the story. His default voice is perfect for the everyman protagonist but he also manages to deliver a number of other convincing voices, with the Japanese luchadora stealing the show.

Wonderful urban fantasy

What a good time! Toby the inscrutable, the tension with the hot girl, the skeptical cop - endless action and humor.

Masterful narration. Travis makes me love his characters. I love the scritching notes, Ben's surprised voice, the Luchador. Listened twice!

Who Knew Walking a Dog was so dangerous?

What did you love best about Dog Walker?

I loved the characters, the writing, and the plot line. Soo... um- everything!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Dog Walker?

When Ben realized Toby was not "just a dog", the drunk Master, the flaking human skin, when Ben learns the girl's name and realizes he still crushes on her

Have you listened to any of Travis Baldree’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I was introduced to Travis in The Novices and he had a thumb attached to my funny bone. This book was not as comedic, but he is a masterful storyteller who excels in different genres.

Any additional comments?

I was genuinely pleasantly surprised by how quickly I got lost in this book! The book description leads one to think it was paranormal with plots tied to folklore, but I was blown away at how entertaining and incredible it delivered. This was a fantastic listen! An excellent blend of talent -both the author and narrator.

Hot Damn

That was a fun listen. I recommend going in blind. Just enjoy the ride. Great narration by Travis Baldree of course. Good dog.

characters are incredibly fun and likable

I love this book. Ben Carter is a clumsy, unlucky guy who walks dogs and picks up poop all day while trying to write a screenplay between charges. He seems to have about as much success with his work in progress as he does with the dogs and running out of bags at the wrong time. Of course, he's got a crush on the Blonde Hipster Girl he sees during his walks, and, when she asks him out one evening, he has no idea what he's in for.

The author, Jack McGuigan, has quite an imagination and sense of humor. The creatures and settings he created are phenomenal. The story is fantastic with a moderate pace and just the right amount of twists and surprises. It isn't very scary but definitely a bit dark and disturbing at times. The writing is clever and vivid. I won't spoil too much for you by giving the best lines, but phrases like “eye butt” and “his head looked like a thumb that had been in the bath too long” have a way of hitting just the right synapses. I chuckled throughout the whole thing – both times I listened to it.

The characters are incredibly fun and likable. My favorites are the (probably) alcoholic and hilarious luchador, “Dragon Mask”, and the Shiba Inu (being a sweet, though stubborn, pet when he's not a murderous beast), aside from our obviously unlikely hero. There are a handful of characters not to like, and one or two to despise.

I was thankful this didn't turn into an all-out romantic comedy. It was a nice combination of (occasionally dark) urban fantasy, action, and adventure, and comedy – with just a sprinkle of horror. The “s” word is used a few times but otherwise, the language isn't too bad. There are elements of gore, violence, and animal cruelty, though I think the ends will justify the means for most readers. I'd say mature teens could handle this.

The narrator, Travis Baldree, was excellent! He played a whole gamut of characters flawlessly, from an old, scornful woman, to a Hispanic female, to a Japanese luchador, and a mother at her wit’s end. The range of voices this guy can do is seriously impressive. I looked more than once to see if he was the only narrator. His voice acting and narration were phenomenal. I really liked the story but I don't think the book would have been nearly as amusing if I had simply read it. I certainly have a new favorite narrator. The production of this audiobook was flawless, sound quality was fantastic, and the only sound effects I picked up on that the narrator didn't do were pen writing sounds while Ben was writing notes. They were perfect for the story. Otherwise, sounds like the “dee-dee-dee-dee” of an alarm are voiced quite convincingly.

Although this is most definitely a stand-alone novel, there's a sequel in the making and I can't wait to hear it.

Audiobook was provided for review by the author.

Please find this complete review and many others at my review blog.

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i likes it

What made the experience of listening to Dog Walker the most enjoyable?

i received this book free of charge for an honest review, i really liked it,if you like down low monster tales this is a good choice

Good mix of horror and comedy

Dog Walker is a fun paranormal fantasy filled with crazy characters and crazy situations. Ben Carter is a wanna be script writer trying to make ends meet as a dog walker. Everything changes when he meets Toby, a demon dog in hiding and its protector, a Japanese Mexican wrestler. With cultists and monsters on the loose Ben is swept up in trying to keep Toby safe and not die in the process.

I really enjoyed Dog walker as it is a light hearted adventure and good story. The characters are unique and blend well together and there is plenty of action and magic, along with comedy and pop culture references without becoming a parody. There is some language and graphic violence but again doesn't go over the top with it.

Travis Baldree does a great job in having each character sound unique, and brings personality to each one. So I would recommend this book as it is just a fun story with just enough depth.

***I was given a free copy from the author, publisher, or narrator in exchange for an honest review***

I loved this book so much

I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Absolutely loved this book. It is kind of silly, very entertaining and very engaging. I honestly loved everything about it. The narration is fantastic and really brought the book to life. If you are a fan of the horror genre, or are interested in an example of it done really well, this is a good book to pick up.