Customer Reviews

Evil Breeding (Dog Lover's Mystery)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

The latest entry into Susan Conant's series of Dog Lover's Mysteries is an engrossing novel that sweeps the reader back in time to learn about the dog world during World War II, and to learn more about Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge. The book leads the reader in new directions. It's nice to see a writer who doesn't dwell on one note because that's the easy way out. Conant has the courage and talent to explore her protagonist's interests and take the reader on Holly Winter's journey through the dog world, wherever that road may lead.

During the decades between the World Wars, the earth was a place of extremes. Millions lived in poverty while a few individuals possessed great wealth. The Morris and Essex dog shows exemplified a level of indulgence not seen since their demise. The prime patron and hostess to the shows was multi-millionaire Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge. She would fly in European dogs, trainers, and owners, setting up small cities on her vast estates to house the canines and their guests.

Modern day dog lover Holly Winters, owner of two champion Alaskan Malamutes (Rowdy and Kiwi), is enamoured with the historical persona of Geraldine. She is thrilled to be commissioned to write a book on the Morris and Essex dog shows. Holly interviews B. Robert Motherwood, a classmate of Geraldine's deceased son, who attended the shows. Holly learns more than she ever needed to know. She soon finds herself investigating murder inside of the Motherwood home.

Anyone who has read the Barker Street Regulars will be elated over the fact that some of the characters appears in EVIL BREEDING. Canine lovers will also adore this novel because of the obsessive behavior of the heroine when it comes to pampering her dogs. The gothic-like story line centers on the ugly secrets of a prominent family who will kill to keep skeletons inside the closet. Thus Susan Conant ahs written a cross appeal tale that fans of gothic, amateur detectives, and pet lovers will cherish.

Harriet Klausner

Susan Conant has once again provided her fans with a wonderful book and has written a wonderful book that ought to gain her some new fans. Her characterizations of the humans are vivid and convey the kind of understanding of human nature most of us think but rarely give voice to (e.g., upon meeting the kennel keeper, Holly describes his expression as indicating that he'd never found much about people to like and that she shouldn't bother to try to change his beliefs). Ms. Conant's characterizations of the animals and the relationships between people and animals (what hooked me in the first place) continue to delight and strike familiar chords. The plot moves well and continues to show the greater complexity of her more recent books, although the title probably pretty well gives away the ending, especially if the reader has much knowledge of eugenics. My only complaint (and this reflects my pro-dog bias) is that I'd like more on Rowdy and Kimi (and Tracker, too). Ever since Holly took the bet from Rita about writing about humans rather than dogs, Ms. Conant seems to have gone in that direction, too. Altogether - Love it and can't wait 'til the next one. Isn't it about time for Buck to resume showing his Golden puppy, have a competitor (who has been a competitor to the family for a long time and maybe was close at one time to Holly's mom) get murdered and Buck be accused? Perhaps Rowdy should have his services sold only to have a battle erupt with the dam's owner over a possible genetic flaw in the puppies due to Rowdy (not that Holly would knowingly breed if there were such a flaw). The puppies are puppy-napped, the dam's owner winds up dead and Holly winds up accused.

Once again Susan Conant has written a book that kept me reading until I finished it. As other reader reviewers have said, I also would have liked to have seen more of Rowdy and Kimi in it, but I also have seen the book reviewers say that they feel there is too much dog stuff in her books. I hope the author will ignore these reviewers. I personally feel that those touches - the dogs, the shows, etc are what makes her books so good, and hope to see more of it in the future. I love all the information I get from her books, always different, always fresh.

Another in the series of books about amateur sleuth Holly Winter and her dogs Kimi and Rowdy, Susan Conant has once again delivered an intriguing story which provides fascinating details about the world of dog fancy while also providing an exciting mystery with roots in not too distant history.

Susan Conant's books are generally enjoyable, but something went wrong here. Is Holly taking herself way too seriously? Was the whole Geraldine Dodge theme a dull way to keep the plot connected? Why have Holly own a cat and continue to harp about how much she dislikes the ugly cat? (I don't even LIKE cats and this bugged me) This book should have been culled by the editors.

Sometimes, when a mystery or other novel contains an animal(s) as co-sleuth or even as companion, the author gets so carried away with how wonderful and splendid and grand the animal is, he or she tends to go overboard into the cutesy area. I admit that on occasion, I have not finished reading such books, because even though I generally do like animals, I prefer them to stay as an animal, and not assume human characteristics. Of course, should one such ever 'talk' to me (and make sense) I might change my mind.

This book however, carefully walks that tight-rope and never goes too far astray from what is a really cracker-jack plot. Recent history can be as fascinating as the farther away variety, as this book readily illustrates. Eugenics, whether applied to humans or animals, can be a fascinating topic of discussion; whether it should be practiced or not is another matter entirely.

Holly Winter, a writer and sometime dog-trainer, loves Alaskan Malamute Dogs. Of that there can be no question. When she lands an assignment to write the text for a photo book of a famous dog-lover, she has no idea where the tale will lead her. All the clues are nicely laid out, and the sprinkling of facts in with the fiction combine to educate as well as entertain the discerning reader. For instance, I have no idea if Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge ever really did exist, but I know that Isabella Stewart Gardner did--and left her home and immense fortune to founding the museum she named Fernway Court, and which was subsequently spectacularly robbed in 1990.

If this is a new trend--combining recent history with current day people and happenings--albeit in a rather historic setting (in this case Cambridge Massachusetts) then I'm all for it. I found this to be engaging and informative novel, and recommend it to readers of mystery novels--whether animal lovers or no.

I greatly enjoy this series and understand that the 12th book in a series must break new ground but perhaps this ground was not a fertile as it should have been. It was a fun read and I laughed outloud at times but would like a trip back to the main stream. Maybe it is time for Holly to get another dog. Since I have a new chessie puppy, I promise that lots of stories will come from it.

This author writes light wt mysteries, centered around poodles and the show dog circuit. if you're burned out on Cornwell' et all you will like this series. Amazon.com is my favorite bookstore!

I truly enjoy the Dog Lovers Mystery series, but this book was not one of my favourites. I found it difficult following it, and there wasn't enough about the dogs to keep me interested either. Although we do see Rowdy and Kimi, they are almost in supporting roles. In the book Holly is doing research for a book on 20's and 30's dog shows and on the people that set them up. She uncovers an old Boston family that was involved with these shows, but she also uncovers a whole lot family secrets that get her and Rowdy into trouble. I will continue the series, but I hope that Conant gets back to the dogs in the next one.