Roll Over and Play Dead (Claire Malloy Mysteries, No. 6) [Mass Market Paperback]

Joan Hess (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 22, 1992

When bookstore owner Claire Malloy agrees to pet sit for Nick and Nora, two pampered bassetts, they quickly vanish on her watch. When she discovers there's a blackmailing dognapper who runs a pit-fight gambling ring loose in town, she gets really mad--and when Claire gets mad, she gets even....

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Agreeing to care for two basset hounds while their elderly owner is away, bookseller Claire Malloy is introduced to the underworld of pet snatchers.redundant, if they're stolen When the hounds left in her care disappear, Claire discovers other neighborhood pets in her small university town are also missing. A check at the animal shelter turns up the information that the unsavory Newton Churls runs an operation licensed to sell animals for medical research. An official inspection, authorized by an unwilling sheriff, proves unavailing. The bereft pet owners and Claire's teenage daughter Caron attempt a nighttime commando raid; when Claire follows them, she finds Churls torn to death by his pit bulls. On the lam to keep up the search and avoid being called as a material witness, Claire is attacked by several unsavory country boys at an animal sale; a ransom demand further complicates the case. Hess again provides lively and diverting entertainment via her brash and articulate detective, last seen in A Diet to Die For .
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

Farberville's bookstore-owner/occasional sleuth Claire Malloy (A Diet to Die For, etc.) has consented to care for Emily Parchester's African violets and basset hounds, Nick and Nora, while Emily takes a trip. Days later, the hounds have disappeared, along with the various pets of neighbors on the block, and Claire is in the middle of a plot to recover them from the filthy quarters of nasty Newton Churls, notorious local animal-dealer. Not so easy, especially after Churls is killed by his pit bulls--not accidentally; Claire's warned off by the local law; a couple of Churls's brutish redneck pals are prowling the neighborhood, and Claire's teenaged daughter, Caron, and friend Inez undertake some heroics of their own. Another of the author's ditsy mixes--a worthy issue; a few eccentrics; lots of ill-advised forays into danger; and a blithe heroine whose ironic reflections often produce a chuckle. Of special interest to dedicated animal-lovers. -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback
• Publisher: Fawcett (June 22, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345375866
• ISBN-13: 978-0345375865
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,515,331 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not her best, but still good!, November 7, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Roll Over and Play Dead (Claire Malloy Mysteries, No. 6) (Mass Market Paperback)

Roll Over & Play Dead reveals Hess as her usual entertaining, witty self, but this time it's with a twist: she takes on the controversial issue of animal testing. Most of the general public really doesn't know (and may not want to know) what goes on in the world of animal testing. I do know; I've been in some animal testing labs. The world of animal testing is much uglier & more unconscionable than animal research scientists would have you believe. Hess always writes a good story, and this time she includes a worthy cause that definitely needs more press. I'm impressed that she tackled the issue!

5.0 out of 5 stars Roll over and Play Dead, May 30, 2010

By 

B. Idle - See all my reviews

This review is from: Roll Over and Play Dead (Claire Malloy Mysteries, No. 6) (Mass Market Paperback)

I always enjoy this author's work. It's a good idea to start at the beginning of the series, but any of her books can stand alone.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Joan Hess is Light and Fun, February 23, 2008

By 

C. Maske (San Antonio, TX USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Roll Over and Play Dead (Claire Malloy Mysteries, No. 6) (Mass Market Paperback)

I always enjoy a Joan Hess book and this one is highly entertaining. She is able to tackle serious issues in an amusing way which brings the subject up in one's mind, but with a very large dose of entertaining mystery and lots of laughs. This is very good light reading with refreshing humor that makes you laugh out loud. She is one of my favorite authors.