Wolf at the Door

WOLF AT THE DOOR marks the debut of Annie O'Hara and her partwolf, part canine companion, Claudius. Annie is always coming to someone's aid. First she adopts (temporarily) Claudius, who belongs to Annie's soon-to-be-ex sister-in-law, who abandoned both her husband and her dog without a backward look. Then Annie agrees to drive to Roswell, New Mexico, during her vacation so she can nurse her aunt after she undergoes surgery. Annie does all this cheerfully enough, although she does have some qualms about providing a home for Claudius who has proven to be headstrong, demanding and aloof.Once in Roswell, Annie is overwhelmed by the UFO mania. In fact, her aunt and uncle belong to a UFO cult/church, along with most of their neighbors. While walking Claudius, Annie stumbles upon the murdered body of their pastor, and his death is soon followed by that of a sex-crazed neighbor who tried to blackmail the killer. As the local police zero in on Annie's uncle as the prime suspect, Annie investigates the case, along with a local reporter she's considering dating. I wasn't able to correctly guess the identity of the killer, but I felt the author kept the one vital clue to the killer unfairly hidden, as it was a visual clue never described in words. The reader never has all she needs to know to solve the case; hopefully in future books the author will play fairly. After all, the mark of a good/great mystery author is to provide all the necessary info while distracting the reader from the vital clue.All in all, I very much liked WOLF AT THE DOOR, as there were lots of fun, quirky characters who really came to life under the author's pen. Annie's relationship with Claudius (a true alpha dog) is a delight! This is a great summer read, and I look forward to future books in this series.

Annie and her irascible dog Claudius are a refreshing new addition to the genre of dog mysteries. The setting of Roswell, NM only adds to the fun. Great murder mystery with wild characters.

Annie and Claudius have to learn to get along with one another while in the wilds of New Mexico. He's loyal to another, and she doesn't quite know how to handle this very smart dog. Three murders and mayhem happen all around them and they are the aliens in Roswell. I've read a lot of dog mysteries, and this is one of the best and funniest! I'm looking forward to another book by Ann Campbell.

Anne Campbell has created memorable characters in Wolf at The Door. Annie and Claudius, as well as Aunt Hortense and Uncle Ira reminded me of people I know, or would like to know. I especially loved her description of Jan Stalker...a meonpausal Buster Brown. Anne Campbell kept me guessing to the very end...A great Summer Read.

Annie O'Hara prefers to never have a serious relationship with a man ever again. The Lee, New Hampshire resident rents rooms to boarders in the Old Thurston Inn where she also lives. She also owns an antique shop that she runs out of the Inn. Annie does not want to be responsible for anyone but her self. However, when her sister-in-law dumps Annie's brother and abandons their dog, she welcomes the canine, Claudius, into her home. The half Husky-half German Shepherd dislikes Annie as much as she dislikes him.The odd couple travels to Roswell, New Mexico together to assist Annie's aunt after her relative recently underwent bunion surgery. As the New England duo walk around town, Claudius suddenly goes wild near a dumpster. Annie looks inside to find the corpse of an assistant pastor of the nearby church. Suspicion falls on Annie's uncle. Annie and her uncle soon find another body in the desert that further substantiates the police's belief that her uncle is the killer. An irate Annie begins her own inquiries to prove his innocence even as she does not yet realize the danger she is in from a cold-blooded murderer.The new crime fighting team of Annie O'Hara and Claudius is a hysterical surreal experience that canine lovers and amateur sleuth fans will adore. The relationship between the hero and the heroine runs the gamut from disdain to trust, which leads to jocular moments that ease a serious story line. UFOlogists are also going to enjoy the satirical scenes that Ann Campbell augments her plot with. WOLF AT THE DOOR is a charming mystery starring amusing charcaters who deserve future appearances.Harriet Klausner