Reviewed By Liz

ISBN 0-425-21187-8

When you pick up a book that has the words “A Dog Lover’s Mystery” on the cover, you naturally expect it be be about dogs. You shouldn’t be surprised if the book is obsessive about dogs, as Gaits of Heaven is. I can deal with that. But what I found disturbing about this book was the prejudices of the main characters against anyone who is not like them.

Holly Winter, her husband Steve and cousin Leah are all dog people – dog writers, showers of dogs, a vet, and veterinary assistant. They don’t like people who don’t like dogs, of course. They also don’t like people who aren’t pretty and well dressed and repeatedly refer to one overweight woman as “disfigured.” They don’t like mental health practitioners, either, and there are many in this book. They are described as drug users, tax cheats, insurance defrauders, adulterers, animal abusers, and murderers. They are also mostly ugly and many of them don’t like dogs. Conant has basically divided her book into two groups of people – those who are thin, love dogs, and don’t see therapists – and criminals. Yes, it really is that simple.

And, unfortunately, that is about the sum total of the book. There really is no mystery here, just a lot of loving information about dogs, a lot of unflattering description of the possible murder suspects, and a pronouncement of the solution at the end. When I finished this book, I went out on the internet to see what the reactions other readers had to it. The general consensus seems to be that this is the “dog” of the series.

Favorite character? The ill-mannered but joyful dog Dolfo. Did I guess it? Yes. Will I read another? I might. Conant is obviously well thought of by many who state her other books are better. Skip this dog and try another.

Mystery Book Reviews by Liz at http://reviewedbyliz.com ©2007

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