Customer Reviews

Canis

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4 star:		(2)
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In Canis, by Robert E. Armstrong, the head of Houston's Bureau of Animal Regulation & Care is Dr. Duncan MacDonell, a man of compassion, intelligence and common sense who's already doing what anyone will recognize as a difficult, depressing and thankless job. Then street people begin to turn up dead, victims of attacks by a huge canine. The police come to MacDonell for help. Is this killer beast a loose dog? A wild animal? A wolf-dog hybrid? Is it under someone's control?

In the process of sorting it all out, MacDonell goes up against local politicians, his boss, the news media, animal rights activists, and some shady characters who sell vicious guard dogs to criminals and to ... well, politicians.

MacDonell, with years of experience as a military veterinarian behind him, enlists the help of his employees, some trusted and some not. He recruits a former Air Force colleague who is an expert dog trainer. MacDonell even seeks the aid of his delightful wife, Jeannie. Just when he learns who is turning huge canines on homeless people and why, MacDonell finds himself in immediate danger of becoming the next prey in a deadly hunt.

This gripping story, its details handled with sensitivity, balance, and just the right dashes of humor and brilliance, will keep you enthralled to the heart-palpitating end. A great read.

Bob Armstrong's first suspense novel is truly a work of art! First, he leads you gently into the bowels of the incredibly difficult, and often emotional world of animal control in the big city and the strange and greedy people that surround it. Next, he carefully weaves his role as chief veterinarian into a believable and chilling plot that keeps you guessing until the end. This is a spell-binding thriller for those who want to learn how animal control professionals do one of the toughest jobs in the world, written by the subject matter master! You won't want to interrupt your reading with even one beer trip to the fridge!

CRAIG N. CARTER, DVM PhD
LTC, USAR VC
Commanding, 994th Medical Detachment (Veterinary Services)
Currently Assigned To SW Asia, Operating Enduring Freedom

I loved this book. It was fast-paced and suspenseful. I couldn't put it down. The characters were great. Even though he's jaded from years in a big-city work environment, Dr. Mac is very caring, but no push-over. His wife, Jeannie, is the ultimate dream-wife, and Dr. Mac's co-workers are very real.

I'm ready for Mr. Armstrong's next book. Hopefully, he'll have something new soon.

Dr. Duncan MacDonell is one of the most interesting characters to grace the pages of a mystery. The story centers around mauled bodies. When the police realize that two of the victims had been alive at the time they were mauled, they turn to Dr. Mac for help. Mr. Mac is a vet with the Houston Bureau of Animal Regulation & Care (BARC). There's humor, suspense, and an education rolled into one book. Sprinkled among the pages of politics and police work are startling statistics regarding animals discarded like daily newspapers. The author has created some colorful characters and injected some subtle lessons in life. A must read.

A great read: a fascinating mystery with with interesting, flawed characters. The author also eloquently addresses the sheer mass, the tonnage if you will; the near-hopelessness of the animal control problem in a metropolis. I think the numbers, the incredible mass of animal lives passing through, and the constant undercurrents of despair in shelters are well past the ability of folks who haven't actually seen the operation of an urban animal-control facility to comprehend, but Dr Armstrong has made both a strong literary statement and a touching plea successfully in the same book, and that's not easy. Get this book to enjoy it. Get this book to learn.

After reading the first paragraph of Canis, I found myself wanting more. Robert Armstrong has weaved a tale of intrigue mixed with politics and a bit of humor and has captured the local flavor of Houston. The characters were believable and the story compelling. Armstrong is definately an author to keep your eye on...Bravo!

L.C. Martin

In 1993 Houston, Duncan MacDonell runs the Animal Regulation and Care section similar to when he served in the military although his superior in the health department thinks of him as the head dog catcher. He insures his ninety-eight employees receive proper training and has hired former military K9 trainer Janie Longley as a special instructor. In spite of his and his department's successes, the politicos still use his group as dumpsters when the public complains about animals running wild on the streets.

While visiting street person Alexander Pitkin, owner of numerous dogs, a giant canine attacks Duncan and dents his front driver's door. Not long afterward, a wild dog described as the size of a gorilla starts killing people. As panic sets in and the politicians blame Duncan though they offer neither solutions nor proper funding, he investigates the gorilla dog assaults not realizing how close to home the truth is.

This is an exciting thriller that provides the audience insight into the politics of animal control in a big city that will shock readers as Dr. Robert Armstrong takes a major bite out of the butt of city leadership's indifference until a public uproar. The gorilla dog provides suspense and Duncan and his support leadership are a delightful cast. However, what makes CANIS a bark above the typical animal chiller is the atmosphere that the "dog catcher" squad must work within especially when two faced city hall is involved.

Harriet Klausner

Bob Armstrong has conjured up a classic, believable character in Dr. Duncan MacDonell; a veterinarian with the skill and heart to take care of all the species -- including us. And the good doctor needs every trick in his bag when he meets the frightening monster Armstrong brings to life in Canis. It's a heck of a read that I highly recommend.

I started this book on my lunch break one day and could not bring myself to stop until I was finished. Good job of tying in medical and political facts with good fiction while still making you think that it really could happen. Congratulations to Dr. Armstrong!

The book Canis, starts out in a puppy mill. You'll read about the atrocities carried out in these places. Animal lover or not you'll be dragged into this story against your will.

Duncan A. MacDonell is the Chief of the Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care. Before that he served twenty years in the military.

None of his prior service in the military, nor his years working for the Health Department, is helping him deal with the political idiots that are running it. You will experience the sheer frustration he deals with every single day, while he tries to get the basic necessities to run his department. Such as skilled workers, dog handlers, and equipment.

When a Homicide Detective, Sam Goodson, calls on MacDonell to help them with a series of gruesome murders around the city, the heat is turned up a notch under MacDonell's hide. It all comes back to Politics.

Robert E. Armstrong has written a sensational book! I found his characters highly interesting and realistic. His main character, MacDonell and his wife Jeannie, I really liked a lot. Of course he put plenty in his book I couldn't stand as well. And that only made the book that much better.

Mr. Armstrong has a truly gifted way with words. I loved his descriptions of the area, the crime scenes, and the characters. Most of all, I chuckled time and time again whenever MacDonell would let go with one of his quirky sayings.

I highly recommend Canis. You will have a truly eye opening experience when you come to understand what our animal bureaus are up against. I for one, can't wait to read another book by Mr. Armstrong.