82. A Dog About Town by J.F. Englert (Mystery) 271 p.

When I was contacted about reviewing this book, I was interested but a little hesitant. The concept sounded fun, but could so easily have been gimmicky or cutesy in the wrong hands. Luckily for me, J.F. Englert’s hands are clearly the right ones for this mystery novel starring a Labrador Retriever as the detective and narrator.

I’m not particularly fond of dogs, but I still enjoyed this book very much. Randolph is an engaging narrator, with a thoughtful, philosophical nature that lends itself to deep reflection and logical thought. This comes in handy when his owner, good-natured twenty-something Harry, becomes involved in a case of sudden death that turns out to be murder.

Randolph is an unusual dog, one who balances a human-like intellect with his irresistible canine instincts and urges. He may read Dante, but he also can’t resist the lure of a roll in particularly fragrant sidewalk paté.

This book would probably appeal most to someone who loves dogs, but even I was charmed by Randolph and interested by the details of a Manhattan dog’s life. I would recommend A Dog About Town to any mystery fan, and it’s a must-read for dog lovers!

Pages read: 24,052

Tags: 50 Book Challenge 2008, Bull Moose Dog Run, J.F. Englert