Other than Westerns, one of my favorite genres includes dogs–as intelligent human companions, devoted and loyal to human partners who feel the same. Here are three favorites:
- Notes from a Small Dog--from the dog’s perspective; delightful vignettes from Small Dog’s life
- Leave No Trace–no better partner for this FBI agent than her working dog, Hawk
- The Keepers--the amazing Vira gets her handler in more trouble
Notes from a Small Dog
by Sue Vincent
5/5
Sue Vincent’s amazingly beguiling Notes from a Small Dog (2013) is the love story between a dog named Ani and it’s human companion. It’s told in vignettes–watching Ani’s fulfilling life with a human through her eyes as she fulfills the obligations she sees as required of a dog in a human family. There’s empathy, respect, and understanding on both sides as each shows in their actions how valuable the other is to them. Read this passage and see if you wouldn’t love to be the dog in this relationship:
The book is a mixture of poetry–usually the author sharing her dog-loving emotions–and lots of narrative as the small dog describes his job:
It is a light-hearted upbeat story, even after Ani notices there is something wrong with her companion and she doesn’t know how to make it better:
“She smells funny. She’s wearing these big white things wrapped round bits of her, and she doesn’t smell right. I’m not sure I like it.”
Every passage in this book is narrated exactly as I would imagine a dog thinks. It’s as though Sue Vincent was a dog–beloved by her owner–in a prior life. This is the feel good book of the year. Even cat people will fall in love with this book.
Leave No Trace
by Sara Driscoll
4/5
Meg Jennings, agent with the FBI’s Human Scent Evidence Team, part of the Forensic Canine Unit, tracks lawbreakers and killers with the help of her amazing working dog, Hawk. In Sara Driscoll’s Leave No Trace (Kensington Books 2020), Book 5 in the FBI Canine series, the two partners are asked to solve a series of murders committed from a distance with a high powered recurve or compound bow. The only evidence usually is the arrow that kills the target–not much even for an experienced tracking dog like Hawk. Each murder, they get a little closer, in no small part because of Jennings amazing instincts and Hawk’s never-quit ability to go beyond any human or canine partner.
I’ve read this entire series and loved every one of them. As usual this is a well woven tail at varied times frightening, inspiring, and heart-breaking. I learned a lot about bow hunting though working dog Hawk’s tracking skills are the real draw for me. I’d be happy if the entire story was Meg and Hawk. If I have one complaint–and why I gave it 4/5–it’s that it’s not clever enough. I wanted to be surprised at every page turn and at times, Driscoll spent time on information and actions that were obvious with few opportunities for light bulb moments. Putting that aside, Hawk’s charisma and Jennings skill at her job and respect for her job carried the story. I can’t wait for the next nook.
–received free from NetGalley in return for an honest review
The Keepers
by Jeffrey Burton
5/5
The leading man in Jeffrey Burton’s The Keepers (Minotaur Books 2021), second in the Mace Reid K-9 Mystery series, is Mason Reid. He is an irreverent plain spoken former cop whose tough as nails attitude cost him a marriage, a few jobs, and at least one girlfriend. But all is forgiven because he loves his four HRD (human remains detection) dogs. They are mostly hired by Chicago PD to hunt out dead bodies. The star of the series, though, isn’t Reid. It’s Vira, a golden retriever pup who has the extraordinary ability to smell the DNA left by killers on a dead body. Then, when it shows up on someone else, she goes into a sort of seizure–the sure sign that Mace is facing the murderer. That’s not only an unusual ability. It’s never heard of. In this story, Vira and Mace are called on to help solve the murder of an aging rocker. Vira like most working dogs I know loves her job so finding the murderer proves easy enough and opens them up to another murder, this of a high powered figure in Chicago policing, this one leading someplace no one and mostly not Mason want it to go. But, they must follow the evidence and that’s what gets Mason and Vira into a whole lot of trouble.
Burton has a friendly easy going way of writing. You feel like he’s talking to you, telling an interesting story, not relaying life-and-death events. And, he has a great sense of humor. Look at these:
“Yeah, I know—whenever I tell folks what I do for a living, they think I slept through Career Day in high school.”
“Vira’s just Vira—a canine savant and the LeBron James of cadaver dogs, that’s all.”
“…Bill [one of Mason’s HRD dogs] came scampering back to me, tail spinning like a ceiling fan.”
This book had some slow spots that I don’t remember in the first (see my review of The Finders) but nothing to dissuade me from reading the next in the series. BTW, the final couple of scenes–they are to die for.
–received free from NetGalley in return for an honest review
@minotaurbooks
@kensingtonbooks
#amreading #dogstories
More dog stories
Sam, a Shaggy Dog Story (one of my all-time favorites)
Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular prehistoric fiction saga, Man vs. Nature which explores seminal events in man’s evolution one trilogy at a time. She is also the author of the Rowe-Delamagente thrillers and Building a Midshipman, the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy. Her non-fiction includes over a hundred books on integrating tech into education, reviews as an Amazon Vine Voice, a columnist for NEA Today, and a freelance journalist on tech ed topics. Look for her next prehistoric fiction, Laws of Nature, Summer 2021.
Funny enough, the novel I’m working on is about an animal-control officer, Jacqui, so it might be right up your alley!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love those books. Think of me when you’re looking for folks to share it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve read Notes from a Small Dog and thought it was adorable, Jacqui. The other two sound like great reads. I do enjoy stories with dogs integral to the plot. Thanks for sharing these recommendations.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Small Dog is more of a best-friend narrator sort, unless I want to consider his life as the plot (which I like). The rest–dogs are part and parcel to everything.
LikeLiked by 2 people
What a fun post. Love dogs. I shared your post with my friend who is studying to be a K-9 police officer. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
He is so very lucky, to spend his day with these wonderful creatures.
LikeLike
Pingback: Smorgasbord Blogger Daily – Tuesday May 11th 2021 – #Review D.G. Kaye, #ReadingAloud Jennie Fitzkee, #DogBooks Jacqui Murray | Smorgasbord Blog Magazine
Excellent fur book recommends Jacqui 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love that term, Deb!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lol 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the mention of Sam’s book Jacqui.. loved Sue and Ani’s book and will certainly get the other two.. you know me.. anything with a dog in the story…Enjoy your week.. x
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m still waiting for the sequel, Sally, about your new dog. I’m patient.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Jacqui.. I am trying to be patient.. so much on hold at the moment..x
LikeLiked by 1 person
These are the BEST tales— er, tails.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hehee. I like that.
LikeLike
Hi Jacqui, all of these books sound good. I have read and loved all of Sue’s Ani books. I re-read them from time to time.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’ve only read one so far but the rest are queued up!
LikeLike
Great! Notes from a Small Dog is on my kindle. 🙂 xo
LikeLiked by 2 people
You have a treat coming, Bette. It is a similar voice to your Amazing Mathilda story–very compelling.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love dog stories. Thanks for these reviews, Jacqui.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’ve searched for many years for good ones. This is a nice collection.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes! Happy weekend, Jacqui.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I had already planned to pick up Sue’s book, but now I’ll take a close look at the other two. Thanks for always writing comprehensive reviews.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I probably like Sue’s the best because it’s from the perspective of the dog. I love to imagine what they’re thinking.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have to read Sue’s Small Dog. Great reviews, Jacqui!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m glad you liked it, Miriam. I found it very special.
LikeLike
I appreciated Sue’s insights, Jacqui.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Last year I read a great book that had a search for a dog in the plot: “A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World” by C. A. Fletcher. It’s speculative fiction and more about the boy than the dog. Still, it was a good book kind, sort of, vaguely related to the books you mentioned.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’ll have to check it out, Andrew. Thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have a soft spots for books that include dogs. These all sound good.
Thanks for sharing, Jacqui!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Me, too, and don’t ever hurt a dog in a story. I will not review it well!
LikeLike
An interesting mix of dog stories, these all sound like compelling reading. But of course, dogs are part of many people’s lives, among our earliest animal companions. They should feature in stories.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Isn’t that the truth? I can’t write a story without including them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
These all look wonderful. I have Notes From a Small Dog lined up on my Kindle 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
You will love it. One of the better I’ve read from a dog’s perspective.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh how sweet. These look so good, and your reviews are great!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Kymber. Can you tell I love dogs?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, yes, same here. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great reviews, Jacqui! I’m a fan of Ani and Sam.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I am too. Both are presented so perfectly in the books.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They are 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve read a couple of dog stories and enjoyed them, but I have to admit it’s a genre I had forgotten about. These books you’ve reviewed look very interesting.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’ve read a lot of dog stories that aren’t nearly as good as these three so I understand how you would find them ‘forgettable’ (did I use the wrong quote marks?).
LikeLiked by 1 person
Don’t worry about the quotation marks, but yes, they should be doubles, unless you’re in England.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My VPN thinks I’m in England but that probably doesn’t count.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ruff, Ruff, Ruff dog stories are cool.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I see you’re channeling your inner dog, Grace. Love it.
LikeLike
Excellent reviews! Thank you for sharing, Jacqui!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Nothing wrong with dog books, right?
LikeLike
Great reviews. Reading dog stories was something fun to do with my kids, but that was a few years ago!
LikeLiked by 3 people
These are definitely adult stories–not because of content but because of structure. I loved all of them. And the cover on The Keepers–does it get any cuter?
LikeLike
Dogs are fabulous companions. Even in books! Have you ever read “The Art of Racing in the Rain” by Garth Stein? Very well done!
LikeLiked by 3 people
I know you agree, Liesbet. It is one of the parts I loved (one of many) about your new book–you loved your dogs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And we still do. The previous ones and the current one. We are suckers when it comes to dogs. any decision is made with them in mind. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
No one can get enough dog stories!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I search them out. I especially like when told through the dog’s POV but those–I’ve discovered–are hit and miss. Some of the authors have either never had a dog or never been one.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Have you ever read one of Dean Koontz’ books that he wrote about his dog, Trixie?
https://www.thriftbooks.com/browse/?b.search=dean%20koontz%2C%20trixie#b.s=mostPopular-desc&b.p=1&b.pp=30&b.oos&b.tile
LikeLiked by 1 person
Did you know that your book ‘Watching the Sun Rise’ is selling at $135. used. I can’t imagine what a new volume would be!
LikeLike
I say put a dog in a story, and it’s automatically better! Three good picks!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I can’t write a book without a dog. Even my ship-based stories, I managed to work dogs into them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
BTW, I just followed your blog. I love your posts, would love more of them!
LikeLike
I also enjoyed Notes from a Small Dog.
LikeLiked by 3 people
The way she blended her dogs empathy for her personal issues–that was stunning.
LikeLike
Hi Jacqui – these sound really delightful and I can understand your enjoyment of them. If I didn’t have ‘zillion’ of other books to read … I’d look them up. My favourite is Jock of the Bushveld … telling the tale of life as a companion to an early, intrepid author who before the book worked the Bushveld … thanks for these … Hilary
LikeLiked by 2 people
Loved that book. I read Patricia’s version and the original. Both were excellent.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My favourite story in my book is a dog story, but to say this is a bit of a spoiler. The book’s called Day Return to Cocoa Yard and available from Waterstones or Barnes & Noble.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’ll go check it out, Mark.
LikeLike
I’d be delighted, thank you
LikeLike
These sound great, Jacqui. Thanks for sharing!
LikeLiked by 2 people
All very different and each of them wonderful.
LikeLike
I can’t do “dog stories” on their own, but love stories with dogs. I usually end up in tears so just don’t go there anymore. It’s why I haven’t and will never watch the Australian movie which went gangbusters here (Red Dog).
LikeLiked by 2 people
I haven’t heard of Red Dog. If it’s sad, I don’t want to see it either. The only sad one of these three is Small Dog, for bigger reasons than the book. The rest are invigorating.
LikeLike
I love dog stories too and Sue´s Notes from a Small Dog is wonderful. Great reviews.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I didn’t expect to like Sue’s Small Dog as much as I did. She definitely bonded with her pup.
LikeLiked by 1 person