Sleeping Dog (Missing Mysteries) [Paperback]

Dick Lochte (Author)

Book Description

Series: Missing Mysteries | Publication Date: January 1, 2001

First Holmes and Watson, then Nero and Archie, Now Leo and Serendipity--two detectives, two narrative voices, twice as much sleuthing and double the fun.

First, imagine Katherine Hepburn at fourteen. Next, in your mind's eye, replay Humphrey Bogart, at his middle-aged best, as Sam Spade. Now picture this oddest of couples as the newest duo in detective fiction and you'll have a perfect portrait of the memorable leads in Sleeping Dog."
--Los Angeles Times Book Review

Originally published in 1985 by Arbor House 0-87795-738-X and by Warner in pbk. 0-446-32661-5, Sleeping Dog won the Nero Wolfe Award and was nominated for the Edgar, the Shamus, and the Anthony Awards. In 1999, the Independent Mystery Booksellers's Association named it one of their 100 Favorite Mysteries of the Century. Poisoned Pen Press will republish the sequel, Laughing Dog, later this year.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Los Angeles Times columnist Lochte deserves raves for his debut. This thriller outclasses, in many ways, the tales of Raymond Chandler, Ross MacDonald and other renowned California mystery writers. Raffishly funny incidents, grave dangers and touching moments are described alternately by Serendipity Dahlquist, 14, and Leo G. Bloodworth, a middle-aged private eye. Their search for Serendipity's stolen dog takes the two up and down the coast, into clashes with operators of cruel dog fights, inept hit men for Mexican gangsters and other menaces. Linked to the plot also are a pushy TV comic, Serendipity's hippie mother with her current companion, Leo's partner (who is one of several victims of a faceless killer) and the unsolved robbery of a Los Angeles bank. The novel's critical point occurs at a huge, mind-blowing punk-rock center where Serendipity lands in a trap set by the villain. Lochte astonishingly builds a host of disparate elements into a corker entertainment, uncontrived and satisfying. November 21
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Lochte's novel snagged the Nero Wolfe Award and was nominated for an Edgar, Shamus, and Anthony Award when it debuted in 1985 not bad for a first novel. The author turns the PI partner concept on its ear by matching a precocious teen named Serendipity Dahlquist with Leo "the bloodhound" Bloodworth, a scruffy, aging investigator. Lochte offers the case from both points of view as the duo search for the kid's lost dog, Groucho.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 292 pages
• Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press; 1 edition (January 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1890208515
• ISBN-13: 978-1890208516
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #309,159 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

DICK LOCHTE is the author of a list of popular crime novels including SLEEPING DOG which won the Nero Wolfe Award, was nominated for the Edgar, the Shamus and the Anthony, and was named one of the 100 Favorite Mysteries of the Century by the Independent Booksellers Association. He is the author of the forthcoming crime novel, BLUES IN THE NIGHT and co-author with the Today Show's Al Roker, of the current mystery, THE TALK SHOW MURDERS. He had co-authored four popular crime novels with attorney Christopher Darden and has written screenplays for such actors as Jodie Foster, Martin Sheen and Roger Moore.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sparkling wit!, November 3, 2006

By 

William Slattery - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sleeping Dog (Missing Mysteries) (Paperback)

Lochte pairs an unlikely duo of detectives -- a teenage girl and a middle-aged private eye. There is a fine mystery afoot, but half the fun comes from seeing the teenage girl through her own eyes (gifted sleuth, woman of the world) and through the eyes of her partner (she's an out-of-her-depth pest), meanwhile seeing the private eye through the same mismatched binoculars. It's a Rashomon thing. While the mystery pulled me in and eventually made me scared, the ongoing comedy of misperception made me grin and even laugh out loud.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An entertaining odd couple!, June 11, 2003

By 

"mystryfan" (Orlando FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sleeping Dog (Missing Mysteries) (Paperback)

Sleeping Dog introduces the unlikely duo of Serendipity Dahlquest, world-weary 14-year-old, and Leo "the Bloodhound" Bloodworth, a just plain weary forty-something PI. Serendipity wants to hire Leo to find her missing dog, the only reminder she has left of her long-gone father. Leo can't be bothered with a kid, and passes her on to his sleazy partner, who shortly thereafter winds up dead. Of course Leo feels obligated to step in and try to resolve the situation. From there on it's an escalating tale of misguided kidnappers, dogfights, drugs, and unique relatives all set again a Los Angeles background.

This story bears up well considering it was originally published almost twenty years ago. The author's method of alternating voices between Serendity and Leo each chapter gives the reader two unique views of every situation in which the pair find themselves.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would recommend it to anyone who likes mysteries that are lively without being too gory or too cute. I look forward to reading their second mis-adventure, Laughing Dog.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I got such a kick out of this mystery!, September 25, 2011

By 

Happy Reader (Northern California) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sleeping Dog (Missing Mysteries) (Paperback)

I just read "Sleeping Dog", and got a kick out of it. It was originally published in 1985, and won the Nero Wolfe Award for the same year. If you aren't familiar with this award, it is awarded annually by the Wolfe Pack, a society started in 1978 to appreciate and celebrate the mysteries written by Rex Stout, starring that overweight orchid lover, Nero Wolfe. The only requirement for consideration of this award is that the book stand for "literary excellence in the mystery genre" (from the Wolfe Pack's offical site).

"Sleeping Dog" was also nominated for the Edgar [Mystery Writers of America], the Shamus [Private Eye Writers of America] and the Anthony [Bouchercon World Mystery Convention]. Not only that, the Independent Mystery Bookseller's Association, in 1999, listed it as one of it's "100 Favorite Mysteries of the Century".

Whew! This explains why this book is still in print after 26 years. It is just a lot of fun.

It is also a little over the top - this is not a sober-sided police procedural. Serendipity (Sehr) Dahlquist has got to be the most troublesome, independent, quick-thinking and precocious fourteen year-old ever. Leo "The Bloodhound" Bloodworth is a relatively happy/grumpy and soft-hearted version of Sam Spade. They meet when Sehr tries to hire Roy Kaspar, the P.I. sharing office space with Leo, to find her missing doggie. Unfortunately, Kaspar immediately turns up dead. Sehr and Leo try to investigate that, too, and end up getting in all sorts of trouble.

The tale is told with Serendipity and Leo telling their side of the story in alternating chapters. I thought this was handled well.

Very enjoyable read.

November 4, 2011
I'm adding a bit to this review. If you'd like to read another mystery, with a young protagonist who reminds me a lot of Serendipity, try a Flavia le Duce mystery. I just read the fourth in the series, "I Am Half Sick of Shadows" and really enjoyed it.
I Am Half-Sick of Shadows: A Flavia de Luce Novel