Ruff Way to Go (Allie Babcock Mysteries)

Rating:
Summary: Conant, Benjamin fans will be disappointed
Review: There is lots of good dog talk here (in fact that's the only thing that got me to finish the book) and the plot is intricate enough, but the tone is just dull. I'm sorry, this writer did a really good job of crafting her story, but there is no joy, no sense of fun, very little suspense and most of the characters are just awful. The only likeable characters are the protagonist, her mother and her boyfriend. What dreary lives they lead, since there are no interesting, funny, fun, smart or charming people for them to have as friends. The book is so workmanlike it was a real chore to finish it. It's really not fair to compare this writer to Susan Conant and Carol Lea Benjamin, since her work is unique, but they each also have a series of novels with a single female canine-loving protagonist who solves murders. The difference is that they are fun. Both Conant's and Benjamin's characters are funny, fascinating, delightful people who get themselves into some difficult scrapes. O'Kane's characters are none of those things. Sorry, I wanted very much to like the book, and I love her dog theme and the constant dog talk.

Rating:
Summary: Fun mystery for dog lovers
Review: There's never a dull moment in dog behaviorist Allida Babcock's neighborhood. First she's called on to help Cassandra and Paul with Suds, the Siberian husky they're fostering, and her pups. Then divorcing couple Edith and Trevor want her to mediate in a custody dispute over their silky terrier, Shogun. Allie subsequently finds Cassandra murdered in Edith's back yard, and Shogun is nowhere to be found. "Ruff Way to Go," like "Play Dead," its predecessor, is an entertaining cozy whodunit that dog lovers will enjoy. The series should appeal especially to those who like Susan Conant's mysteries: Allie's world-view is as dog-centered as Holly Winter's; humor, though more low-key, is much in evidence; and there's an abundance of canine lore, including lots of useful care and training tips.

Rating:
Summary: Fast moving and entertaining
Review: What a relief to find a dog-lover's mystery without all the voluminous asides of Susan Conant or the occasionally too cutesy Laurien Berenson. (Not that I haven't read and enjoyed both those author's books). Enjoyable dog training information, and the mystery really moves along, with plenty of characters to keep one guessing, especially as negative information about each suspect keeps turning up. Nice characterizations; both the protagonist and her mother are appealing.