A Brace of Bloodhounds

I have read every one of the Jo Beth Siddons Bloodhound series and I loved each and every one. Virginia Lanier is no longer with us, so I cherish my collection of this series. Do yourself a favor and read them all. You will not be sorry!

The intrepid Jo Beth Sidden and her lovable, talented bloodhounds continue their daring exploits in this third suspenseful mystery of the series. This time our heroes deal with the kidnapping of a child, a murderous judge who's carrying on nefarious deeds in the woods, a bank robbery perpetrated by two drunken locals, and a rampaging alligator. And, yes, psycho ex-husband Bubba is still around. Add dangerous treks through the Okefenokee Swamp and stakeouts in the forest, and you've got an absorbing, unputdownable thriller. Unconventional characters, exciting subplots, vivid descriptions, humor, Southern atmosphere and, above all, those irresistible canines make for a most enjoyable read.

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!

From the Opening chapter, Miz JoBeth Siddon, drags us along herlife and adventure. Wonderful cultural "Points of the South"along the way. Great new charcters, plenty of old ones to fill out a Dang Good mystery. Funny, sad, scary and full of heart felt quips, fast moving and never boring. Me I'm in love with the dogs, Hound Dogs.

I first read about Virginia Lanier's books in a Jacksonville Florida Times Union Article and maybe because it was about dogs ... I was curious so I bought her first book ... Death In Bloodhound Lane ... actually I bought the second one at the same time ... Good thing because I couldn't wait to dive into House on Bloodhound Lane. I waited a whole two weeks before caving in and buying A Brace of Bloodhounds in hardcover. And now I must wait until July to read her next book. I read a lot ... but Virginia Lanier captures me on page one and doesn't let go until I reach the end ... and then I want to read more. I do not understand why she isn't way up there on the Best Seller list ... if you love dogs ... Sue Grafton .... Mary Higgins Clark ... John Grisham ... and the South, etc. ...pick one of her books up .... you'll see!

Virginia Lanier has brought Jo Beth Siddon back again with her beloved Bobby Lee taking the spotlight. Jo Beth and her "family", both human and bloodhound, have become great friends to her faithful readers. Lanier knows the swamp. It is her next door neighbor and she makes you feel the heat and humidity, the terror of the unseen source of a dry rattle somewhere nearby, the agony of no-seeums, as well as the beauty of the swamp. If you have never had a chance to visit the Okefenokee Swamp, you will want to do so after reading Lanier's books and going into it with Jo Beth and her trusty hounds on quests for lost children, murderers, escaped convicts, and green outdoorsmen who go into the swamp thinking they know it all. Lanier also captures the real people from the good ole' boys to genteel southern ladies even those like Jo Beth who tend to be a bit liberated. She gives short courses in southern country manners and hospitality through her characters as well as tossing in the odd mysteries that let Jo Beth and her bloodhounds shine. A couple of tips. If you have never read any of the "bloodhound" books, go first to Bloodhound Red and get to know Jo Beth and the gang and read them in the order written. The second tip, allow plenty of time for reading because once you start, you won't want to put any one of them down.