Welcome to The Smiling Dog Café, where lost souls find their way home, guided by mysterious dogs and comforted by the scent of perfectly brewed coffee. This collection of two interconnected novellas brings the Japanese tradition of healing fiction to the streets of Brooklyn, where an unassuming café holds more magic than meets the eye.
In "Code of Silence," Jeff Hodges has spent his life afraid to speak his truth, until the day he loses everything and follows a golden retriever to a café that seems to exist between worlds. There, proprietor Betty Martinez serves coffee that tastes like memories, while her wall of dog portraits holds secrets that could help Jeff finally find his voice – if he's brave enough to face what he's been running from.
Healing
Grief
Psychological
Tragic Romance
Coming of Age
Memory
Redemption
Supernatural
Family
Journey
Audiobook details
GenreFantasy
Length3 hrs 34 mins
Narrated bySelect Your Own
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateOct 31, 2025
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Chapter 1
1211: Between Past and Present
21: A Carefully Constructed Life
1312: Guardian of Lost Hearts
32: Mason City
1413: The Next Chapter
43: Regular Business Hours
1514: 387 Square Feet
54: Chemical Bonds
1615: The Art of Maintenance
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65: Winter’s Warmth
1716: Unscrambling the Code
76: Artistic Theory
1817: Empty Space
87: Regular Visitors
1918: Ghosts of Almost Love
98: Up on the Roof
2019: Stars Being Born
109: Impending Change
2120: A Walk Along the Beach
1110: Self-Sabotage
22Epilogue: Vermont Spring
About the author
Neil S. Plakcy
Neil Plakcy crafts engaging stories that celebrate love, identity, and found family across multiple genres of mystery and romance, often featuring clever and charming dogs inspired by his own golden retrievers. View all by Neil S. Plakcy
