Customer Reviews

Stud Rites

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

 

 

I'm not a mystery lover. I'm not an Alaskan Malamute lover. But I'm really enjoying these books! So far, this has been my favorite. The author has a great way of making dog-show talk accessible. I admit I'm constantly confused over Best of Winners vs Best Opposite Sex etc etc and avoid the conformation ring myself at all costs (PAY someone else to try to run a straight line down and back). Clever dialogue. Characterization that may be a bit over the top, but amusing. And I keep muttering under my breath that if the author only would admit that Siberian Huskies are 'better' than those hulking, dog-aggressive Malamutes her books would be even better <G> (yeah....I'm biased!).

Never mind the Kirkus review. The dog facts weren't boring and I'm a cat lover who merely likes dogs. I liked the analogies that the author used in order to help those of us who aren't dog fanatics to understand the feelings of those who are. I chuckled and cringed over Holly's reunion with the man who had captured her heart when she was but a girl (and mother was right). Actually, I did a lot of chuckling and cringing during this book. It's a pity that no one thought to enter an unedited version of the final judging video to one of those amateur video shows because it probably would have won a prize. (Heaven knows that the donated lamp probably would have made a worthy entry in the Ugliest Lamp contest.) The bride's father probably would have envied the lucky dad in book/film version(s) of "Father of the Bride." I'm suprised the poor man didn't have a heart attack before it was all over. (Got a good chuckle out of Holly's unspoken appraisal of the groom, not to mention her opinion of a woman who would marry a man who's allergic to dogs.) I would have been more upset about the nasty way two fat characters were depicted if I hadn't already known from the author's e-mail response to my complaint to her publisher [over *Bloodlines* and *Black Ribbon*] that she was horrified when a friend pointed that out to her, apologizes, and hopes that her three latest books are not offensive. I stayed up until 11:30 to finish this book. I could have been in bed an hour earlier if I hadn't kept looking up at the TV to see if Scully and Mulder were doing anything exciting for the "X-Files" 2000 season finale. That was a mistake.

This was one of my favorite Conant books. The prose is particularly well written, and bitingly sarcastic at times. I particularly appreciate S. Conant's emphasis on breed rescue, and how wonderful those dogs can be. The characters in her book are all just exaggerated enough so you can really get a feel for their personalities, and her descriptions of the back-biting and gossip that goes on at dog shows had me in stitches! If you like this series, I think you will love this one!

Conant takes Holly to a murder at a malamute national specialty. This could have been a five star book, if the tone was less negative. Once again, Holly describes so many of her characters with a tone of disgust that I feel I'm wallowing in her anger. The bratty blond bride, the chain-smoking murder victim, the spineless murderer, the infighting and cat fighting between show and rescue people Sure, a dog show is no love fest at all times, but I do get tired of reading so much nastiness. Never-the-less, this book has some nice moments -- Kevin showing up and buying reams of lottery tickets (particularly liked him dragging out the dog bed to give to Holly later) and other little details that gave the reader a break from the otherwise prevalent negativity that consumes so much of the books lately. All the show information was fun too. I wish Holly would lighten up a little, but I'll give it a four, and hope for improvement.

I truly am enjoying Susan Conant and her characters. Of course, Rowdy and Kimi steal the show each time, but I like Holly Winter too. This book focuses on the sport of Dog Conformation. Holly is at a National Convention for her breed - the Alaskan Malamute, so we don't see any other breed of dog in this book, but while she and her cousin Leah are there there is murder being done. Ms. Conant makes sure that her readers see how competitive and how political dog fanciers are, and we see Holly trying to use her not inconsiderable knowledge about dogs and dog training to help her nail down a killer. This is an excellent series, but for dog lovers, it is especially wonderful.

If you love dogs and mysteries then you will love this book. It's full of good advise about dogs along with an interesting plot. I love the characters.

Probably my favorite of Susan Conant's Holly Winter novels. Realisticly funny characters that had me snikering ("Women who run with vets?") It was also a good whodunit, having me second gussing who the killer really was. I also am a dog show addict, and the events that take place not far from unrealistic (well, I have never seen anyone hold a dog at gunpoint, but hey, it could be done).

Nikki and Rowdy two playful malamutes are entered into a National Specialty Show. Holly Winter tries to figure out the murders and keep to the malamutes. This is a breath taking book!

I count Susan Conant amoung my favorite mystery writers. Her obsession with all things canine combined with some unusual crime scenarios make her books a treat.

Stud Rites Author: Susan Conant Publisher: Doubleday Copyright 1996