Customer Reviews

Ten Little Bloodhounds

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I liked this book at least as much as the earlier ones in the Bloodhound series. Virginia Lanier provides a realistic tour of the nearly mystical abilities of the bloodhound and keeps the characters busy at the same time. JoBeth is balancing ten bloodhound pups, ten murder suspects, the nasty Bubba and her business all at one time. No wonder she's short-tempered. The astonishing information on the scent machine is true--I've seen it in action. She weaves the facts and the fictional characters together in an exciting story that has humidity and 'gators crawling out of the book's covers. A great read!

"Ten Little Bloodhounds" sends us off on several almost simultaneous trails, any one of which would make the book well worth reading. As with previous works in the JoBeth-Bloundhound series, I couldn't put the book down. I especially liked the irony of searching for the cat with the dog who was kicked out of the man-hunt-drug-sniffing work because he would trail critters. I guess EVERY dog has his day. The intensity of individual search missions did not seem quite as great as in most of the other books, but the intensity of strain on friendships caused by JoBeth's hard-headedness and meddling in her close friends lives is greater than ever. This strain is more the focus of TLB. JoBeth is more nosier (sic) and more bossier (sic) than ever. Sometimes you want to slap her, but you can't help but love her. Bubba's meaner'n ever, and has help, as if he needed it. In light of the flurry of an ending, I can't wait to see what happens to JoBeth next.

I have read all of Virginia Lanier's books (date of review 8/7/00). All five are full of excitement and suspense as well as romance and humor.

Being a dog lover myself, I was fascinated by the nuances of caring for, training, and working with bloodhounds.

I just finished her last book in the series and I will sorely miss Jo Beth and her adventures into the swamp with her magnificent dogs. I am eagerly awaiting the next one!

Ms. Lanier is a very good story teller. She weaves several plot lines through this story and makes it work. I like the main character, Jo Beth Sidden. She is tough and prickly on the outside and mush on the inside. She rubs a lot of people the wrong way but stands up and accepts the consequences. The dogs, however, are the true stars in this series and Ms. Lanier is at her best when writing about them. This book would have benefited from a better proof reading. There were quite a few errors throughout the book, but they really didn't detract from the story. Actually, it became rather fun looking for them. Like a treasure hunt. I enjoyed reading this book very much and look forward to the next installment in this series.

Jo Beth is starting to get on my nerves -- she doesn't seem to realise just how closely her own surface personality resembles that of the rich old lady she doesn't like (but whose cat she finds, anyway).

I have enjoyed this series up till now, and i liked this one enough to go on to the next one (assuming there is one), but some things just don't wear well -- the way in which all the Good Ole Boys Jo Beth has to work with look upon her as rather amusing, somewhat uppity and a little dim when she tries to enlighten them (while undoubtedly true-to-life everywhere, and more so in the backwoods South -- and check my hometown before you send me "What do you know about it?" e-mails) is starting to sound like a broken record.

Jo Beth's running inability to relate easily with those around her -- even those she loves and respects -- is also getting old, and comes to a head in this book that almost had me ready to quit reading the series.

As usual, the "main" storyline is anything but -- the murder of the old lady is the book's selling point, but it's really secondary to the other storylines, crises and general hugger-mugger Jo Beth's life seems to abound with. Among the more interesting elements are a couple of searches for types of things Jo Beth has never asked her dogs to find before, some rather intense interaction with the denizens of the swamps, and a few nicely-drawn vignettes of the dogs in action.

But the unmasking of the old lady's murderer is both by-the-numbers drudge work not at all involving the dogs and not very interesting.

Add in a deus-ex-machina last-minute solution to major plot elements that comes out of left field, and you get the weakest entry in the series.

But still worth reading, if only for the bloodhounds, and for watching Jo Beth shoot down a couple of overbearing authority figures -- and because there *are* elements in this story that will forever change the future of Jo Beth, a couple of the other recurring characters and of the series overall.

I note at least one other reviewer complains about the copy-editing; i'd guess this book was proofed by spell-checker, because several places words in the text, while perfectly spelt, are simply the wrong words -- one that sticks in my head is "purpose" where "propose" is clearly meant. And someone who doesn't understand the rules of useage is responsible for putting "Jasmine and I" in at least one place where "Jasmine and me" would be correct.

Another complaint i have (which applies to the whole series) is that while Lanier lives in the South, she still misses subtlties of Southern speech -- several times, she has characters who say "you-all" (or however she's spelling it) when speaking to a single person. Not the way it usually works. There are a couple of other places where the speech patterns grate a bit.

All of that aside, this is a book that devotees of the series will want to read, no matter what, as it contains things they need to know. For people who haven't read any of the series, start at the beginning.

I have read all of Ms Lanier's books regarding bloodhounds. They are so entertaining and gives me an idea of what the world of raising bloodhounds is. I am anxiously awaiting another book from her and would like to know when she has a new one out. Reading is so relaxing for me. And I like books that have a little mystery involved.

While I not sure JoBeth and I would be best buddies, I can see why she is so prickly. I too live down here with those "Southern Boys" So well woven, all the plot lines and sub plots. 10 suspects, ala Madam A.... Skillfully put together and never boring. I never saw the "Villians" or the ending coming! As always wonderful Bloodhounds and lore. I want my own BobbyLee!

I read this book in one sitting. I love JoBeth and all her extended family.This series is one of the best of this genre. It is set in the south, has a great plot, a strong female lead, mystery, and dogs. What more could we ask for? I know! Please Ms. Lanier write faster!

I suspect that I liked this book because of the quirky way the author weaves back and forth from the bloodhounds to the trainor. It is really two books...the feminist protagonist is a cliche, and the bloodhounds who were very appealing.

I guess I am more familiar with feminists than I am with bloodhounds.

I do recommend the book.

Jo Beth is her usually cocky self and maybe she will loose a little of her acidity as her life changes but she still doesn't fail to keep your attention with her searches and life changes. As usual, I read this book cover to cover in less than 48 hr. and sent it on to my daughter who was not disappointed. We are eagerly waiting for the next book in the series.