Evil Breeding

Once again Susan Conant has written a book that kept me reading until I finished it. As other reader reviewers have said, I also would have liked to have seen more of Rowdy and Kimi in it, but I also have seen the book reviewers say that they feel there is too much dog stuff in her books. I hope the author will ignore these reviewers. I personally feel that those touches - the dogs, the shows, etc are what makes her books so good, and hope to see more of it in the future. I love all the information I get from her books, always different, always fresh.

Another in the series of books about amateur sleuth Holly Winter and her dogs Kimi and Rowdy, Susan Conant has once again delivered an intriguing story which provides fascinating details about the world of dog fancy while also providing an exciting mystery with roots in not too distant history.

The latest entry into Susan Conant's series of Dog Lover's Mysteries is an engrossing novel that sweeps the reader back in time to learn about the dog world during World War II, and to learn more about Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge. The book leads the reader in new directions. It's nice to see a writer who doesn't dwell on one note because that's the easy way out. Conant has the courage and talent to explore her protagonist's interests and take the reader on Holly Winter's journey through the dog world, wherever that road may lead.

During the decades between the World Wars, the earth was a place of extremes. Millions lived in poverty while a few individuals possessed great wealth. The Morris and Essex dog shows exemplified a level of indulgence not seen since their demise. The prime patron and hostess to the shows was multi-millionaire Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge. She would fly in European dogs, trainers, and owners, setting up small cities on her vast estates to house the canines and their guests.Modern day dog lover Holly Winters, owner of two champion Alaskan Malamutes (Rowdy and Kiwi), is enamoured with the historical persona of Geraldine. She is thrilled to be commissioned to write a book on the Morris and Essex dog shows. Holly interviews B. Robert Motherwood, a classmate of Geraldine's deceased son, who attended the shows. Holly learns more than she ever needed to know. She soon finds herself investigating murder inside of the Motherwood home.Anyone who has read the Barker Street Regulars will be elated over the fact that some of the characters appears in EVIL BREEDING. Canine lovers will also adore this novel because of the obsessive behavior of the heroine when it comes to pampering her dogs. The gothic-like story line centers on the ugly secrets of a prominent family who will kill to keep skeletons inside the closet. Thus Susan Conant ahs written a cross appeal tale that fans of gothic, amateur detectives, and pet lovers will cherish. Harriet Klausner

Susan Conant has once again provided her fans with a wonderful book and has written a wonderful book that ought to gain her some new fans. Her characterizations of the humans are vivid and convey the kind of understanding of human nature most of us think but rarely give voice to (e.g., upon meeting the kennel keeper, Holly describes his expression as indicating that he'd never found much about people to like and that she shouldn't bother to try to change his beliefs). Ms. Conant's characterizations of the animals and the relationships between people and animals (what hooked me in the first place) continue to delight and strike familiar chords. The plot moves well and continues to show the greater complexity of her more recent books, although the title probably pretty well gives away the ending, especially if the reader has much knowledge of eugenics. My only complaint (and this reflects my pro-dog bias) is that I'd like more on Rowdy and Kimi (and Tracker, too). Ever since Holly took the bet from Rita about writing about humans rather than dogs, Ms. Conant seems to have gone in that direction, too. Altogether - Love it and can't wait 'til the next one. Isn't it about time for Buck to resume showing his Golden puppy, have a competitor (who has been a competitor to the family for a long time and maybe was close at one time to Holly's mom) get murdered and Buck be accused? Perhaps Rowdy should have his services sold only to have a battle erupt with the dam's owner over a possible genetic flaw in the puppies due to Rowdy (not that Holly would knowingly breed if there were such a flaw). The puppies are puppy-napped, the dam's owner winds up dead and Holly winds up accused.