Customer Reviews

Dr. Nightingale Follows a Canine Clue: A Deirdre Quinn Nightingale Mystery (Beeler Large Print Mystery Series)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I'm puzzled by the other reviewers' enthusiasm. This book was as abysmally bad as her others in the series -- see, e.g., the reviews of "Dr. Nightingale Races The Outlaw Colt."

Again, the characters are unprofessional and unbelievable. Nightingale's brief animal encounters sound lifted from veterinary textbooks, and there's no satisfactory conclusion as to where the hapless corgi of the title will wind up. After he'd been left starving with the half-buried corpse of his mistress for weeks, Nightingale dumps him in a barn, locked alone in a stall. No TLC from this DVM! In the final pages, he's still being called the victim's dog, not her own.

In "Outlaw Colt," one of Nightingale's sidekicks strives to become a Boddhisatva. Here in "Canine Clue," a Zen cult is central to the story, and given that the books are set in rural New England, the clumsy insertion of an Eastern religious element seems forced and incredible. Nightingale's own yoga practice is quirky, but fits, and has been a consistent element. The Buddhism and the Zen, however, fit in like geta at an ice rink.

On the other hand, her reaction to emotional events isn't quirky, it's psychotic. As one of the other reviewers here noted, all of the characters seem mentally ill on some level. This isn't intentional; it's the result of careless writing, as in, the author seemingly could not have cared less if her characters and plot make sense and are sane.

Normally, keeping in mind that authors sometimes read these reviews, I'd be more tactful, but Adamson has several mystery franchises and cranks these out like sausage, and so has probably gotten enough comfort from her royalties to endure a blunt review. For a good female sleuth who happens to be a D.V.M., see the Andi Pauling series by Lillian Roberts.

Didi is examining a herd of dairy cows when she gets a call from one of her elves. He tells her that her missing best friend, Rose's corgi has been spotted in the area. She goes to check it out and finds the bodies of Rose and her two German Shepherds buried in a shallow grave. She is determined to find out what happened and why. The more and more she investigates, she finds out how little she knows about her friend.

This was a rather dark mystery and the ending isn't as neat and comforting as you would expect. Didi seems to be in serious need of psychiatric help as are most of the people around her. Not the best addition to the series.

Didi is examining a herd of dairy cows when she gets a call from one of her elves. He tells her that her missing best friend, Rose's corgi has been spotted in the area. She goes to check it out and finds the bodies of Rose and her two German Shepherds buried in a shallow grave. She is determined to find out what happened and why. The more and more she investigates, she finds out how little she knows about her friend.

This was a rather dark mystery and the ending isn't as neat and comforting as you would expect. Didi seems to be in serious need of psychiatric help as are most of the people around her. Not the best addition to the series.

The murder of Didi's best friend catapults her into a frenzy of activity to find the killer and exact revenge. Fast paced and funny, the author balances the hopelessness of Didi's grief and guilt that she knew so little about her 'best' friend and the comic relief of Charlie's big plans. The plot they uncover is complex and nasty and poor Rose is not all she seemed to be.

This is one of the best puzzles of the series. I could not put it down and read it all in one sitting. If indeed this is the last of the Dr. Nightingale series I am sorry to see them go. I have developed a great love for the good doctor and her elves. I recommend this and the other 11 books in this series to anyone who loves mysteries and animals.

I wish someone would convince Lydia Adamson to continue this series...the characters are so weird that you are immediately forced to love them or hate them, but you're never bored.